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A DESCRIPTIVE ANALYSIS OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COMMUNITY
POLICING FORUMS IN THE LEBOWAKGOMO AREA
BY
SENAMOLELA PHINEAS MAMOSEBO
Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
MASTER OF ARTS
in the faculty of
Humanities
at the
University of Limpopo
South Africa
2014
Supervisor
Professor C.J. Roelofse
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The researcher would like to express his heartfelt special thanks and sincere gratitude
as well as appreciation to the following:
• My Heavenly FATHER, who gave me strength to pursue this research work to its
completion.
• My former supervisor, Professor Neels Moolman and my supervisor Prof
Roelofse for their guidance, consistent willingness and interest, assistance and
motivations. The final product owes much to their positive criticism and
suggestion.
• My family for their uncontested support during the difficult times.
• My friend and colleague Col Simon Sebola for guidance, support and motivation.
• The Station Commander of Lebowakgomo, COL Sekonya K.D, Sector managers,
and members of the CPF for permission, positive participation and co-operation
in this research
DECLARATION
I declare that A DESCRIPTIVE ANALYSIS OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COMMUNITY
POLICING FORUMS IN THE LEBOWAKGOMO AREA represent the researcher’s own work,
both in conceptions and execution. All the sources that I have consulted, used or quoted
have been acknowledged by means of complete references.
……………………………
S.P MAMOSEBO
TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE NO
CHAPTER 1
GENERAL ORIENTATION AND METHODOLOGY
1.1 Introduction 1
1.2 Research Problem 1
1.3 Literature Review 2
1.4 Purpose of the Study 8
1.5 Research Questions 8
1.6 Research Methodology 8
1.7 Ethical Considerations 12
CHAPTER 2
POLICING IN SOUTH AFRICA
2.1 Introduction 14
2.2 Traditional Model of Policing 15
2.3 The Community Policing Concept 17
2.4 Components of Community Policing 19
2.5 Theoretical Framework of Community Policing 22
2.6 Summary 26
CHAPTER 3
COMMUNITY POLICING FORUMS
3.1 Introduction 28
3.2 The Establishment of Community Policing Forums 28
3.3 Working with Community 31
3.4 The Establishment of a Community Police Forum 32
3.5 The Election of Office-bearers 36
3.6 The Drafting of Constitution 36
3.7 The structure of the Community Policing Forum (CPF)
and the functions and mandate of its various substructures 36
3.8 A working Model for Community Policing Forums 38
3.9 Problems met by Community Policing Forums 43
3.10 Community Policing Forums and Community Empowerment 43
3.11 Objectives of Community Policing Forums and Boards 45
3.12 Summary 46
CHAPTER 4
DATA PRESENTATION AND FINDINGS
POLICING AREA
4.1 Introduction 47
4.2 A Descriptive Analysis of the Implementation of
Community Policing Forums in the Lebowakgomo Area 71
4.3 The Community Policing Forums and Organisation 75
4.4 Community Policing Forums 76
4.5 Activities Fulfilled by Community Policing Forums 76
4
4.6 Community Involvement 76
4.7 The Success and Problems 77
4.8 Summary 80
CHAPTER 5
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Introduction 81
5.2 Conclusion 81
5.3 The CPF Organisation 82
5.4 Community Policing Forum Activities 82
5.5 Success and Problems 82
5.6 Recommendations 83
5.7 Summary 85
REFERENCES 86
INTERVIEW QUESTIONS 90
LIST OF TABLES PAGE NO
Table 1: Level of cooperation 47
Table 2: Partnership 49
Table 3: Police contact with CPF 51
Table 4: Police involve CPF in crime prevention 52
Table 5: Police/ CPF communication 53
Table 6: Do CPF members ensure that poor service
delivery is reported to police management? 55
Table 7: Do CPF members ensure that corrective steps are
taken in case of poor service delivery? 56
Table 8: Follow-ups on reported crime 57 5
Table 9: Follow-ups on progress with investigations 58
Table 10: Victims rights 59
Table 11: CPF/ police partnership 61
Table 12: Crime reduction 63
Table 12: Comparison of Crime Statistics A, B and C 64
Table 13: Factors contribution to success failure in CPF/ police
interaction 66
Table 14: CPF/police programmes that have succeeded or failure 67
Table 15: Suggestions to improve CPF/police partnership 69
6
CHAPTER 1
GENERAL ORIENTATION TO THE RESEARCH
1.1 INTRODUCTION
The community policing philosophy is a relatively new approach in South Africa. It was
established in 1990 during the Convention of a Democratic South Africa (CODESA)
and other forums which were involved in political developments in the country at that
time. The Interim Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1993, South African
Police Service Act 68 of 1995, and the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa,
1996, are the results of this political development. After promulgation of the South
African Police Service Act 68 of 1995, a policy framework for community policing was
issued wherein all police stations were expected to be involved in Community Police
Forums (CPFs). It is against this background that the envisaged research is
conducted on the implementation of community policing in the Lebowakgomo policing
area. A similar study was conducted by Sebola (2006) in the Polokwane policing
area. It was found that various projects such as Child-in-sports and Cop- Soccer were
established to enhance collaboration between the police and members of the
community.
1.2 RESEARCH PROBLEM
Historically, in most parts of the country including Lebowakgomo Township, there was
a considerable lack of co-operation between the police and the community. The
country was experiencing social unrest and a high crime rate. Due to this legacy,
interim committees such as Street Committees, Self-Defense Units, and Self
Protection Units were established before 1994, as alternatives to the South African
Police Service. On the other hand, the National Peace-keeping Forces were launched
as an official structure, to assist the police in addressing crime problems. These
interim committees did not operate for long as most of their members had ulterior
motives ranging from monetary benefits to political opportunism. The police did not
know how to involve members of the community in policing matters. Under these
circumstances, it became necessary for the establishment of Community Policing
7
Forums (CPFs). It was in the interest of the South African Police Service that all police
stations should establish Community Policing Forums (CPFs) in their respective police
precincts in order to build partnerships with communities to solve crime-related
problems (Paneras, 2002:3). The Lebowakgomo Police Station also had to follow suit
and ensure that its CPF (formed in 1996) performed as guided by the policy
framework for Community Policing Forums (South African Police, 1997). There is no
previous study made to investigate the implementation of the CPFs in Lebowakgomo.
As such, the envisaged research is necessary.
1.3 LITERATURE REVIEW
1.3.1 Background to the Research Problem
The biggest dilemma that the South African Government experienced after 1994 was
the integration of the members of the police from eleven police agencies of the former
homelands and those from the non-statutory forces into a single democratic police
service for the country. This was done to comply with the political dictates of a new,
united, South Africa. Due to the political history of South Africa it was difficult for the
government to convince the community to work with the police, because the
relationship between the police and the community was so badly eroded that there
was lack of trust and co-operation, which are important elements/aspects for the
purpose of crime prevention (Badumuti, 1996:7).This happened because the police
were used to defend apartheid laws rather than focusing on crime. Nel and
Bezuidenhout (in Sebola, 2006:5) confirm that throughout the apartheid era, members
of the South African Police Force were trained and motivated to control, rather than
protect communities. Continued mistrust existed between the police and the
community and political violence forced the government to adopt the community
policing philosophy as an alternative approach to crime problems.
The necessity of community policing was not recognised by the current government
only, even the Honourable, Mr. Vlok, the then Minister of Law and Order during
apartheid years, had once indicated that fragmented and ad hoc efforts to address
serious crimes were futile and pointless. He further stressed the need for an integrated
approach with the community to solve problems of crime and lawlessness (Mofomme,
2001:1). To ensure the proper implementation of community policing in all police
2
stations throughout the country, the following documents were issued by the post -
apartheid government:
• The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996;
• Community Policing: Policy Framework and Guidelines (A manual for the South
African Police Service, 1997);
• The White Paper on Safety and Security (1998); and
• The South African Police Service Act of 1995.
Besides all these efforts by the government, the Community Policing Strategy has
been unable to achieve its desired objectives. Both the police and members of the
community at the time ignored or disregarded the community policing philosophy
which is based on the principle of partnership problem solving, the community police
officer, pro-active actions and officer involvement in decision making (Sebola, 2006:6).
The suspected failure of the police and the community to accept and implement
community policing, is based on the premise that there is a lack of understanding of
what community policing is, how it should be implemented and by whom
(Badmuti,1996:7). Some view community policing as an ideology brought in by the
African National Congress (ANC), and a strategy that minimised the power of the
police in dealing with crime. On the other hand, others are using community policing to
pursue their political interests while the SAPS management is trying to own it as their
product (Sebola, 2006:6).
According to Badumuti (1996:7), community policing should not be incident-driven like
conventional policing, but it should deal with the root causes of the crime problem and
not its symptoms. In Community Oriented Policing (COP), management should not be
top down, but a democratic one that even decentralises the power to all levels. It is
necessary that all structures within the communities, non-governmental organisations,
governmental sectors and religious groups be afforded the opportunity to participate
actively in the implementation of community policing in their neighborhood (Sebola,
2006:6).
In other developed countries, community policing is successful because, not only
senior officers are involved, but the whole police department is responsible for its
3
implementation. In Britain, for instance, Community Police Officers are involved in
community policing, in Canada, the Royal Canadian Police engage in the delivery of
community policing services and in the United States of America, all police personnel
are involved in community policing (Morrison & Conradie, 2006:16). In the SAPS, only
senior officers are attending the Community Policing Forum meetings while police
from the lower ranks do not attend the meetings (Badumuti 1996:7). In fact, police
members from lower ranks are the ones who should participate fully in the activities of
community policing.
1.3.2 Adoption of Democracy Before 1994, the South African Police had extraordinary powers under the law and
suppressed basic human rights, especially those of disenfranchised groups.
According to Nel & Bezuidenhout (1995:56), with the adoption of democracy, the new
government had to deal with a paradigm shift in the police department. During 2007,
the African National Congress (ANC) held a conference at Polokwane where it was
decided that the South African Police Service should be changed to a Police Force
and other specialised units, such as Child Protection Units should be Family Violence,
Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS). The Directorate of Special Operations
(Scorpions) and the Diamond and Gold units were phased out. Then new units such
as the Directorate of Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI or Hawks) emerged and new
concepts of Sector Policing were created.
The adoption of community policing philosophy was seen as one of the initiatives the
government initiated in order to improve poor relationships that existed between the
police and the vast majority of the South African population. Lockyer (1999:4) regards
community policing as a philosophy, management style and organisational design that
promotes pro-active problem-solving and police-community partnerships to address
the causes and fear of crime, as well as other community issues. According to
Trojanowicz and Trojanowicz (1998:4), community policing is based on the joint effort
of citizens and police towards solving neighbourhood problems in order to satisfy the
expressed needs of citizens and to enhance the residents’ quality of life. It is believed
that the police can be more effective if they can reduce their reliance on traditional
methods of policing and rely, instead, on tailor-made responses to specific problems.
4
Such responses can co-ordinate the activities of people and agencies both inside and
outside the criminal justice system. According to Friedman (1992:44), traditional
reactive policing has little impact on the fear of crime. Apparently citizens are not
greatly affected by police responses in terms of their personal sense of security vis-à-
vis street and violent crimes. Perhaps it is important to note that community policing
can be successful only if members of society takes responsibility of their
neighbourhoods.
1.3.3 Kansas City Preventive Patrol Experiment (KCPP) According to Roelofse (2007:89) a revolutionary project, the Kansas City (Missouri)
Preventive Patrol study detailed the South Patrol Division ‘s 15 into three kinds of
beats:
• In five reactive-only beats, routine preventive patrol was eliminated entirely patrol
cars were dispatched only when calls for service received.
• In the five control beats, routine preventive patrols remained at the standard one-
car per ratio.
• In the five proactive beats, the intensity of routine preventive patrol was increased
by doubling or tripling the normal ratio.
He alleges that the results of the KCPP had profound implications for the
traditional crime control world. Some of the more prominent findings are:
• Rates of reported crimes showed no difference among the
different beats.
• Those crimes believed to be most susceptible to control through
preventive motor patrol, auto theft, burglary, theft from motor
vehicle larceny and vandalism showed no discernable impact of
the number of cases according to victionisation studies
performed.
• Citizen attitude towards police showed minimal consistent
different and no apparent across the three different types of
beats. Fear of crime did not decline.
• Citizen satisfaction with the police did not improve in the
experimental areas (Trojanowcz, Kappeler Gaines and
Bacqueroux, 2007:97-88).
5
It is obvious that the KCPP has raised considerable debate and has raised serious
questions about random motor patrol’s immediate ability to prevent crime simply by its
presence.
Community policing is rooted in team policing, police-community relations, crime
prevention and has become tactical in nature. The acceptance and adoption of the
community policing philosophy in South Africa was a sensitive and difficult task for
both members of the community and the police. This can be ascribed to the fact that
members of the police were trained and motivated to control rather than protect the
community (Roelofse, 2007: 89). In turn, members of the community found it difficult
to accept the police in their community because of past atrocities. To bridge the gap
between the members of the police and the community, CPF's were introduced as well
as policy framework and guidelines to ensure proper implementation of the program.
De Beer, Kriel, Kruger, Sampson, et al. (2003:269) emphasises the establishment of
police community partnerships and a problem solving approach to the needs of the
community. The manual further stipulates the following mandate and functions of the
Community Police Forums:
• establishing and maintaining a partnership between the community and the
police service;
• promoting communication between the police service and the community;
• promotion and co-operation between the police services and the community in
fulfilling the needs of the community regarding policing;
• improving the rendering of police services to the community at National, Provincial
and Local levels;
• improving transparency in the service and accountability of the service to the
community; and
• promoting joint problem identification and problem solving by the service and
the community.
The National Guidelines for Community Police Forums and Provincial Boards clearly
state that all members of the SAPS are responsible for the implementation of
community policing (De Beer et al.,2003:236). Provincial commanders, cluster
commanders and station commanders are responsible for the establishment of
6
Community Policing Forums (CPF`s) and Boards in their respective areas. The offices
of the members of the Executive Councils and the Provincial Secretariat for Police
have an oversight and monitoring function with regard to the establishment and
sustainability of Community Policing Forums and Boards (De Beer, Kriel & Kruger,
2003:216).
Community Policing Forums (CPFs) are a means to facilitate the partnership between
the police and the community and to engage in joint problem identification and
consultative problem solving. It should not be seen as a structure to promote personal
interests or secondary objectives. The Community Policing Forums and Boards are to
be established, and should be representative of the community with an effort to
facilitate a process of problem solving (De Beer, et al., 2003:216). Community Policing
Forums and Boards do not have direct executive powers over the police. These are
structures that are intended to enhance consultative and participatory decision making
with regard to the needs and priorities of the communities served by the police.
Membership and participation at Community Policing Forums and Boards is a
voluntary community service. De Beer, et al., (2003:269) further emphasises that the
functions of the Community Policing Forums are to promote local accountability of the
service. However, this is not the case within the Lebowakgomo policing area. The
communities within the research area are not fully involved in policing matters as
stipulated in the policy framework and guidelines of the CPF.
The members of the ruling party, the African National Congress, are trying their best to
mobilise community members to support the initiatives, but the process is unable to
move. The researcher as a police officer of the area has observed that there are
various reasons for this. Firstly, some police officials do not allow and encourage
community members to participate in the CPFs. Secondly, community members are
reluctant to actively take part in the CPF's. Thirdly, there is also a lack of programmes
to stimulate the participation of individuals, youth, businesses and religious institutions
as CPF members. It is also important that youngsters with a potential for leadership
should be trained to participate in the management of youth clubs.
7
1.4 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The following aim and objectives of the study outline the purpose of the study.
1.4.1 The aim of the study The aim of this study is to analyse and describe the implementation of the Community
Policing Forums (CPFs) and Sub-forums in the Lebowakgomo policing area.
1.4.2 Objectives of the Study The objectives of the study are as follows:
• to describe the level of co-operation between the Community
Policing Forums and the SAPS.
• to describe the activities of the Community Policing Forums and
Sub-forums in the Lebowakgomo (policing area) to improve
service delivery to the public.
• to assess the level of perception of respondents on the police
and CPF success / failure.
• to make recommendations to the police / CPF.
1.5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
• How is the implementation of the Community Policing Forums and sub- Forums in the Lebowakgomo policing area managed? • How are the Community Policing Forums and the Police co-operating
with each other in the research area?
1.6 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY This study has been conducted on the descriptive level in order to obtain knowledge
about the implementation of Community Policing Forums in the Lebowakgomo policing
area. The framework adopted in this study is that of a qualitative approach since it
produces data by seeing the world from the participants’ point of view on specific
issues (Brynard & Hanekom, 1997:42). By using a qualitative approach, the
8
researcher was able to get insight into the opinions, ideas and frustrations of
participants. This approach was also followed by Roelofse & Manganyi (2011:87) in
their study of community policing in Muchipisi Village.
1.6.1 Research Design
The unit of analysis of this study is both the individual and the group. Semi-Structured
interviews with individual CPF members and focus groups of CPF members were
conducted.
1.6.2 Sampling Cluster Sampling is a sampling technique used when natural grouping are evident in a
statistical population. In this technique, the total population is divided into these groups
and a sample of the group is selected. Then the required information is collected from
the elements within each selected group (Punch, 2008:97). This may be done for every
element in those groups or a subsample of elements may be selected within each of
these groups.
Van der Walt (1984:79) states that sampling in this case consist of the creation of
number of external homogenous but internally heterogeneous clusters in the relevant
population and subsequent random selection of one or another of these clusters. The
researcher had three clusters in the sample, which are the police (sector managers), the
CPF and the community. In the study the researcher selected respondents from three
clusters from which data have been collected.
• CPF members = 10
• Sub-forum managers= 10
• Sector Managers = 5
All five (5) sector managers and ten (10) members of Community Policing Forums and
ten (10) of fifty two (52) Sub-forums in the research area will be included in the sample.
Due to the small number of the sectors sampling is not required as all five (5) managers
have been interviewed. Ten (10) of fifty two (52) sub-forums, respondents were included
in the sample using a convenient sampling by using those who were available and willing
to participate in the study.
9
1.6.3 Data Collection Data have been collected by means of structured interviews. The interviews started with
the description of the aims of the study to the participants. This was done in order to
establish a comfortable and neutral environment, with the hope to establish rapport.
Respondents would be asked about their role in community policing. Semi-structured
interviews were conducted with sector managers as well as with Community Police
Forum members. The fact that the researcher is in the police service places him in a
good position to generate valuable information from a police perspective.
The interview method is preferred because it is a direct method of obtaining information
in a face-to-face situation. The disadvantages are that the method may be time
consuming since interviews are difficult to arrange. However, the method is preferred
above written questionnaires because the interviewer has the opportunity to probe the
subject in question (Behr, 1983:33). In addition, the interviewer can add a clarifying
remark when the respondents do not understand the question whilst also being able to
ask clarifying questions.
1.6.4 Data Analysis Verbal scientific and statistical descriptive techniques have been applied where
applicable. The NUDIST program was used to analyse the data for this project.
Deductive and thematic analysis has been applied. (See chapter 4 for analysis).
1.6.5 Reliability, Validity and Objectivity
The Community Policing Forums should not only be viewed as community structures
that hold monthly meetings with the police, but as structures representing the interest
of the community as far as policing matters are concerned. According to the SAPS
(1997:8), CPF's should be responsible for the following mentioned functions:
• Improve the delivery of police services to the community;
• Strengthen the partnership between the community and their police;
• Promote joint problem identification and problem solving;
• Ensure consultation and proper communication between the police and the
community; and
• Ensure accountability and transparency.
10
These functions were used as indicators of measurement (yardsticks) for the purpose
of this study. The extent, to which Community Policing Forums are consulted by the
SAPS concerning decisions affecting them directly, have also been used as an
indication of measurement on how community policing is conducted in the area.
1.6.6 Bias As indicated above, semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from all
sector managers. Focus group interviews were conducted with CPF and sub-forums
managers in the research area. As data are collected from three different groups, bias
will therefore be reduced to a minimum. The SAPS manual (1997:8) outlines the
responsibilities of CPFs very clearly and these will be used as the indications of
measurement as indicated in 1.6.5 above.
1.6.7 Operational Definitions
The terms and concepts in this study are defined to avoid confusion emerging from
the application. Terms that are used are defined from the views of different
authorities.
• Community policing is defined as a philosophy that guides police
management styles and operational strategies, and emphasises the
establishment of police/community partnerships and a problem solving
approach responsive to the needs of the community. For the purpose of this
study community policing will be defined as a philosophy or an approach to
policing which recognises the inter-dependency and shared responsibilities of
all citizens (Reynecke 1997: 12). Reynecke’s definition was used during this
research project.
• Community may have various meanings in different contexts. According to the
definition adopted in community policing, community refers to a specific
geographical area occupied by people who share certain common
characteristics such as ethnicity, age, economics and religion. This union
causes them to identify with one another and to be joined together by common
concerns and community problems (Flynn 1998:23). In the study, this definition
11
has been adopted for this study.
• Community Police Forum refers to a group of people consisting of members
of the community and the police working together with the aim of facilitating the
partnership between the police and the community and to engage in joint
problem identification and consultative problem solving (Morrison & Conradie
2006:4).In the study, this definition has been adopted.
• Community Sub Forums are duly elected representatives of local
communities who are accountable to the Community Policing Forum (CPF) in
examining the characteristics of problem solving mechanisms. This definition
has been used in the study.
• Crime is unlawful conduct punishable by the state (Snyman 2008:2). The
study made use of this conception of crime.
• Service Orientation is when various needs of clients are taken into account,
to enable the rendering of a professional client-centred service that is effective,
efficient and accountable (SAPS Manual 1997:3). This definition was adopted
for the study.
• Empowerment refers to the creation of a sense of joint responsibility and a
joint capacity for addressing crime, service delivery and safety and security
issues amongst members of the community and South African Police Service
personnel. This implies that members of the community and the South African
Police Service personnel are to be educated about community policing, to
enable all to play a constructive role in the Community Policing Forums, boards
and in their respective communities.
1.7 ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS
The South African Police Service is an open system institution, but this does
not mean that everyone can just get access to information from the police
12
without approval from the authorities. Permission to conduct the study
regarding community policing issues have been obtained from the Station
Commander of the Lebowakgomo Police Station. Proper arrangement has
been made to ensure that the study did not interfere with the work of
participants. “Participants will be treated with respect, dignity and courtesy
since they do not owe anything to the researcher” (Huysamen, 1993:173) .The
participants shall not be forced to participate in the research, or lured to
participate under false pretences. They will be assured of anonymity, although
the names of the organisations to which they belong will be used in the final
report.
13
CHAPTER 2
POLICING IN SOUTH AFRICA
2.1 Introduction The previous chapter outlined the research methodology used to collect and analyse
data. In this chapter, policing in South Africa before and after democratisation will be
discussed. Traditional histories have failed to set structural relations within which policing
are embedded. According to Bennet, et al. in Smit (1989:144) there were no political
structures in terms of which the police could be held accountable to black communities.
The community policing theory is supported by different social theories and will also be
outlined.
2.1.1 Policing pre-1994
According to Scharf (1995:4), referring to policing prior to 1994, defining policing in South
Africa is fraught with difficulties. He says that in an oligarchy in which the legitimacy of the
state has been increasingly challenged over the last decade, both nationally and
internationally, policing takes on a different character from policing in liberal democracies.
The hangover of colonial conquest is still strong in evidence in the style of policing of the
disenfranchised majority, both within their racially separate, isolated townships and their
activities within the white cities and their suburbs. According to Scharf (1995:3) policing
blacks was thus primarily a process of enforcing, in the most literal sense of the word, the
ideology of apartheid and less a process of protecting blacks from victimisation by
criminal elements.
After the Soweto riots policing became subsumed within the total strategy, and in
the eighties became an integral part of the compendium of counter-insurgency
structures set up under the dominance of military strategists. Almost four years of
successive states of emergency, giving the police almost ultimate powers to use
force, ensured that hegemony was retained as the police became even more
militarised than they had been before (Scharf, 1995:3).
14
According to Ebola (2006:14) Jagwanth says that in South African context, the concept of
Community Policing has been used to refer to a wide range of policing activities ranging
from self-policing initiatives which completely exclude the formal policing agency, to
various initiatives taken by or in co-operation with the police. He says (p.3) that for this
purpose, Community Policing is defined as any method of policing that includes a police
officer assigned to the same area, meeting and working with the residents and business
people who live and work in the beat area. In this way the citizens and the police work
together to identify the problems of the area and to collaborate on workable solutions to
problems (Trojanowicz and Trojanowicz, 1998:3). When the Police perform their duties
they must acknowledge that they cannot do the job of public safety alone and recognise
that they have valuable resources available to them in their communities.
2.2 Traditional Model of Policing
According to Van Heerden (1994:19) the development of the notion of policing runs
parallel to the historical development of the concept of social control. Modern policing is
the end product of this process of social change. This changing perspective is closely
connected with the natural increase in population, urbanisation and its characteristic
impersonal atmosphere, and industrial and technological developments and the
concomitant increase in the incidence of crime. Van Heerden (1994:19) further says
changes in people’s expectations and obligations concerning policing with regard to the
powers of arrest and search, and in the relationship between the police and the public,
are historically rooted in this process. It would hardly be possible to make a proper study
of modern policing without placing it in historical perspective.
According to Scharf, Ferndale and Malekane (1995:3), like many new ideas, the slogan
from police station to community peace centres was developed to find a creative solution
to a crisis. It was a crisis that developed in June to July 1993 when a sector of the
population in Harare, a subsection of Khayelitsha, Cape Town’s largest concentration of
Africans, demanded that the building of a police station in their area be stopped
immediately. The protest took the form of protest marches, attacks on police officers,
attacks on the building contractor’s cars and threats to their personnel.
15
They said that policing in Khayelitsha was thus a far cry from what one would expect in a
normal South African township. The police travelled predominantly in armoured vehicles
of various designs such as Caspirs, Nyalas and Scouts. They were under staffed. The
police station was considered to be, in police talk, a “punishment station” to which
policemen and women, who had committed some disciplinary transgression, were posted
as punishment. The police were supported by the Defense Force, also in armoured
vehicles. Conventional policing that involved investigation and prosecution of crime was
not a common feature as it would have been the case in less violent settings. The co-
operation of the community structures with the Police was very uneven. The stated
reason for the objection to the police station was that the Communities had not been
consulted about the need for a police station. During the apartheid era police practices
were imposed on township populations. The halting of the building of the police station
was not their only demand. They also demanded the resignation of the police commander
of the whole Khayelitsha, and the withdrawal of all white police personnel from
Khayelitsha.
The reasons for this was that the commander had been presented with a long list
of complaints about the conduct of his staff, in some cases murder, and he had
seemingly done nothing about it and the offending staff members were still allowed
to continue with their duties. Moreover, white members of the force were racist and
condescending to the residents, performing their duties in the baasskap mould of
the apartheid era. (Scharf, 1995:3).
It must also be known and understood that not everything was bad in the traditional
model of policing in South Africa. According to Van Rooyen (1994:4) the traditional
policing approach was impressive for the following reasons:
• Success was achieved in totally integrated institutional strategies with
coherent paradigm that was consistently applied internally and held a logical
appeal.
• The limiting of police functions to crime prevention with the emphasis on
reactive behaviour appeared meaningful. By concentrating on crime it was
thought that police potential could be used more effectively than directing
16
their efforts to different problems.
• The faithful adherence to rules and regulations and strict enforcement of
laws seemed attractive as it limited discretionary behaviour.
According to Sebola (2006:15), despite certain good practices within the traditional model
of policing, the police were viewed as government’s agency responsible for law
enforcement. Traditional policing was based on bureaucratic principles because the
nature of policing accountability was highly centralised, governed by rules, regulation and
policing directives. There was one-way downwards communication in the form of orders.
Subordinate and superior relationships were rigid and based on the prerogatives of rank.
This has not changed even in the new democratic South Africa, as most Police Forces in
around the world countries operate like this. The atmosphere was impersonal and the
accent fell upon repressive work (Van Heerden, 1986:144). The theory of the top down
approach was followed. The primary functions of the police in traditional policing were to
enforce the laws and effect arrests. The fact that some laws were infringing others rights
and unjust, was no problem to them.
2.3 The Community Policing Concept. After democratisation in 1994 South Africa adopted the Community Policing model.
Community Policing is a philosophy that guides management styles and operational
strategies and emphasises the establishment of police partnerships and a problem solving
approach responsive to the needs of the community. According to Braiden (1997:16),
Community Policing is both a philosophy and organisation strategy that allows the
enforcement agency and community members to work closely together in creative ways to
solve the problem of crime, fear of crime, illicit drugs, physical and social disorder,
neighbourhood decay and the overall quality of life in the community.
The Community Policing philosophy rests on the belief that the law abiding citizens in the
community have the responsibility to take part in the policing activities and create a good
communication and cooperation to get them involved in crime prevention in exchange for
their support. According to Sebola (2006:17), Feltes says Community Policing is promising
because it builds working relationships with citizens which result in:
• Improved delivery of service;
17
• Improved police community relations and
• Problem (needs) identification.
Community Policing can better address the problems and concerns of the community
because it is a proactive, decentralised approach with strong commitment to crime
prevention, reducing crime and disorder and fear of crime. Unlike the traditional model of
policing, the success of Community Policing should not be measured in terms of the
number of arrests. It is accepted that community participation is the essence of Community
Policing and that police accountability at a local level must be balanced by other forms of
accountability. Community Policing Forums have an important role to play in the creation
of a new style of policing and in the transformation of the police organisation. According to
Mufamadi (1995:3) at National level, the responsibility is to direct the police towards a user
friendly and cost effective service which can earn the trust and co-operation of all sections
of our population. At station level, however, problem solving policing must be applied.
Community Policing Forums must see themselves as playing an important role to
transform policing in South Africa and make it more democratic.
According to Feltes (2002:2) the following factors as effects of community policing:
• an initial increase in reported crimes;
• a reduced fear of crime;
• an increase confidence and sense of increased empowerment among citizens;
• an increase in job satisfaction for police; and
• a decrease in targeted crime.
According to Fourie (1998:184) and Roelofse (2007:22) Community Policing is
characterised by the following:
• Service orientation; and
• The community and the police have realistic expectations of what the police can and
cannot do to achieve community safety and wellbeing. The members of the community
have knowledge about police limitations and the importance of public involvement in
policing. Police efforts are re-prioritised to focus on customer service and satisfaction.
This involves creating problem solving partnerships and innovative responses to crime
related problems.
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2.4 Components of Community Policing
2.4.1 Community Partnership Community neighborhoods, families, individuals, schools, elected officials, local
government agencies, organisations, churches and business should be empowered to
accept the challenge and responsibility to assume ownership for their public safety. The
police and the community should have shared ownership over their area. This does not
mean that the community takes the law into their own hands, but rather that the
community works with the police to identify and prioritise problems and develop and
implement creative and effective responses. According to Mufamadi (1995:1) there is a
misconception that Community Policing Forums are seen as structures which allow
community members to control policing. It is in fact a structure for interaction between the
police and communities. Establishing and maintaining mutual trust is the central goal of
the first core component of policing-community partnership. Policing recognises the need
for cooperation with the community. In the first instance the police encourage community
members to come forth with relevant information regarding serious crime. In addition the
police speak to neighborhood groups, participate in business and civic events, work with
social agencies, and take part in education and recreational programmes for school
children.
Community partnership means adopting a policing perspective that exceeds the standard
law enforcement emphasis. This broad outlook recognises the value of activities that
contribute to the orderliness and well-being of the neighbourhood.
These activities could include helping accident or crime victims, providing emergency
medical services, helping resolve domestic and neighbourhood conflicts (e.g. family
Violence, landlord-tenant disputes, or racial harassment), working with residents and local
businesses to improve neighbourhood conditions, controlling automobile and pedestrian
traffic, providing emergency social services and referrals to those at risk (e.g. adolescent
runaways, the homeless, the intoxicated and the mentally ill ), and protecting the
exercising of constitutional rights.
19
These services help to develop trust between the police and the community. This trust will
enable the police to gain greater access to valuable information from the community that
could lead to the solution and prevention of crimes, will engender support for needed
crime control measures, and will provide an opportunity for officers to establish a working
relationship with the community. The entire police organisation must be involved in
enlisting the cooperation of community members in promoting safety and security.
Building trust will not happen overnight, it will require ongoing effort. Trust must be
achieved before the police can assess the needs of the community and construct the
close ties that will engender community support. To build this trust which is needed for an
effective community partnership, the police must treat people with respect and sensitivity.
The use of unnecessary force and arrogance, aloofness, or rudeness at any level of the
agency, will dampen the willingness of community members to ally themselves with the
police.
2.4.2 Community Empowerment Community empowerment happens when individuals or groups have sustained
commitment, appropriate information and skills and the influence necessary to affect
policies and share measureable outcomes. The Community Policing approach and
policies are ingredients necessary for community members to become empowered to be
active partners in policing matters (Moolman, 2002:10).
2.4.3 Problem Solving Problem solving must be approached systematically. Problems are identified and
prioritised with input from all stakeholders which includes neighbourhood residents, beat
officers and relevant community organisations. Careful analysis of the problems is done to
design the responses. The responses are implemented, monitored and evaluated for their
effectiveness and modified if necessary (Moolman, 2002:10).
2.4.4 Change Management In Trojanowics (1998:4) it is stated that effective community partnership and problem
solving require the mastery of new responsibility and adoption of a flexible style of
management. Community Policing emphasises the values of the patrol function and the
20
patrol officer as an individual. Patrol officers have traditionally been accorded low status
despite the scope and sensitivity of the tasks they perform. Community Policing requires
the shifting of initiative, decision-making, and responsibility downwards within the police
organisation. Under Community Policing, patrol officers are given broader freedom to
decide what should be done and how it should be done in their communities. They
assume managerial responsibility for the delivery of police services to their assigned area.
The enhanced role of the patrol officer has enormous organisational and managerial
implications. The entire police organisation must be structured, managed and operated in
a manner that supports the efforts of the patrol officer and that encourages a cooperative
approach to solving problems. Under Community Policing, command is no longer
centralised, and many decisions now come from the bottom up instead from the top down.
Greater decision-making power is given to those closest to the situation with the
expectation that this change will improve the overall performance of the agency. This
transformation in command structure is not only sound management, but is also crucial to
the creation of meaningful and productive ties between the police and the community
Trojanowics (1998:4).
Community Policing alters the contemporary functions of supervisors and managers. The
Institute for Security Studies (1994:10) stated that under Community Policing,
management serves to guide rather than dominate. They act as patrol officers and it is to
ensure that officers have the necessary resources to solve the problems in communities.
Creativity and innovation must be fostered if satisfactory solutions to long-standing
community problems are to be found.
According to Kelling (1994:10) it is stated that the transition to Community Policing
requires recognising that the new responsibilities and decision-making power of the
neighbourhood patrol officers must be supported, guided and encouraged by the entire
organisation. In addition, it requires establishing clearly stated values that provide both the
police organisation and the public with a clear sense of policings expanded focus and
direction.
21
2.4.5 Value Driven
Community Policing is ultimately about values. Especially the change in values that is
needed to adapt policing to these changing times (Moolman 2002:10). He says that values
must be ingrained in the very culture of the organisation and must be reflected in its
objectives, in its policies, and in the actions of its personnel.
Values are the beliefs that guide an organisation and the behaviour of its employees. The
most important beliefs are those that set forth the ultimate purposes of the organisation. A
clear statement of beliefs and goals gives direction to the organisation and helps ensure
that values are transformed into appropriate actions and behaviours. The entire agency
must be committed to the values embodied by such a mission statement. This mission
statement should be widely disseminated both inside and outside the police organisation to
garner public support and to facilitate accountability. In the move to community policing,
where problem-solving efforts and accountability are shared by the police, the local
government, and the community, explicitly defined values become critically important in
assigning responsibility and attracting and mobilising support and resources (Moolman,
2002:10).
An organisation`s mission statement should be simple, direct and unassuming. According
to Moolman (2002:10) values must be unequivocally communicated so that officers
understand the influence of their actions. Community Policing relies on the establishment
of a clear, unambiguous link of values to behaviours. The guiding values central to
community policing are trust, cooperation, communication, ingenuity, integrity, initiative,
discretion, leadership, responsibility, respect and a broadened commitment to public safety
and security.
2.5 Theoretical Framework of Community Policing According to Feltes (2002:2) and Roelofse (2007:155), Community Policing is a new
philosophy rather than just new techniques of police work. The police and communities
work together in close relationship to identify problems in their community and to find
solutions to the problems. He says a new philosophy means a total change in thinking and
22
acting in the police service, and thus a complete change in the structure of the service.
Change should not come from a single institution or party, it must come from the police
personnel, society and management. The philosophy of Community Policing is based on
the normative sponsorship theory, critical social theory, and broken window theory.
2.5.1 Normative Sponsorship Theory
Normative sponsorship theory declares that most people are of good will and willing to co-
operate with others to satisfy their needs (Sower, 1957:10). It proposes that a community
effort will only be sponsored if it is normative to all persons and interested groups involved.
One of the major considerations when attempting to initiate community development is to
understand how two or more interest groups can have sufficient convergence of interest in,
or conscience concerning common goals to bring about the implementation.
The more various groups share common values, beliefs, and goals, the more likely it is that
they will agree on common goals when they interact for the purpose of neighbourhoods
(Braiden, 1997:10). The participating groups do not have to justify their involvement or
acceptance of a group for the same reasons. People should work together to solve
problems. If police are working separately from community, it will not be beneficial to
anyone as crime will increase. The community must report crime and try to eliminate crime
opportunities as they are the ones who living and knowing their ordinary people, victims
and offenders in the area in which they live.
2.5.2 Critical Social Theory. Critical Social Theory means social theory which is capable of taking a critical stance
towards itself by recognising its presuppositions and its own role in the world, and which
takes a critical stance towards the social reality that it investigates, by providing grounds for
the justification and criticism of the institutions, practices and mentalities that makes up that
reality (University of Sussex, 2006:1). It bridges the usual divides in social thought between
explanation and justification, between philosophical and substantive concerns, between
pure and applied theory and between contemporary thinking and the study of earlier
thinking. Critical Social Theory is defined by Fay as practical social science that inspired
people to become socially active to correct their socio-economic and political
23
circumstances, so that they might have their expressed unmet needs satisfied
(Trojaniwicz and Trojaniwicz, 1998:1). Braiden (1997:10) adds that critical social theory
focuses on how and why people coalesce to correct and overcome the socio-economic and
political obstacles that prevent them from having their needs met .Critical Social theory has
as its main goal the improvement of human condition. The three core ideas in critical social
science are enlightenment, empowerment and emancipation. Enlightenment educates
people about their particular problematic situation and their potential capacity to change
their situation in order to meet their unmet needs. Enlightenment is achieved through
reflection, communication and determination of the problematic social condition in the
community.
Formal consultation between representatives from a particular community and the police in
the form of Community Policing Forums is adequate. Community Policing requires a total
change of mind from all police personal and members of the community. There is a need
for the creation of police and community educational workshops to deliberate on how
policing should be discharged.
2.5.3 Broken Windows Theory
Wilson and Kelling (1982:12) observed that if someone breaks a window in a building and it
is not quickly repaired, others will break more windows. Eventually, the broken windows
create a sense of disorder. A lack of attention to disorder sends a message that nobody
cares about the neighbourhood. A lack of attention to small problems creates an impression
that you do not care about other issues. The challenge for the police and the community is
to take the small signs of disorder seriously and deal with them before they can turn into big
problems. Hence the police may see a problem and regard it not as a problem for members
of the community. That is the reason why there must be continuous liaison between the two
in order to have a common understanding of what problems are, and where these problems
must be referred to. The broken windows theory supports the police idea to examine the
underlying causes of social problems. It also provides a reason to do something about
problems such as graffiti, panhandling and public drunkards.
24
2.5.4 Zero Tolerance
Zero tolerance is the concept of compelling persons in positions of authority, who might
otherwise exercise their discretion in making subjective judgments regarding the severity of
a given offense, to impose a pre determined punishment regardless of individual culpability
or extenuating circumstances (Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia 2009:1). The terminology is
most commonly used to describe the allocation of additional resources to combat identified
crimes in particular geographical locations. Hence, extra police patrols are deployed in
known hot spots where prostitution and drug dealing are problems for local residents,
specialised police units monitor the behaviour of repeat offenders on the streets, and on
scene arrests in incidents of domestic violence are all claimed to be effective in reducing
crime. According to Sherman (2009:5) those activities that do not work include;
neighbourhood watch programs organised with police; increase arrest or raids on drug
market locations; storefront police officers in high crime locations; and police newsletters
with local crime information. Those that appear promising ,are defined by Wilson and
Kelling (See Sherman, 2009: 2), as programs for which the level of certainty is too low to
make firm conclusions, but for which, based on the limited evidence there is some reason
to expect some successful reduction in crime, include proactive drunk driving with breath
testing which may reduce accident deaths; community policing with meetings to set
priorities may influence perceptions of crime; police showing greater respect to arrested
offenders may reduce repeat offending; polite field interrogations of suspicious persons
may reduce street crime; making arrest warrants to domestic violence suspects who leave
the scene before the police arrive may reduce domestic violence; higher number of
police officers in cities may reduce crime; and gang monitoring by community workers and
probation and police officers may reduce gang violence. Note that friendly or cordial
policing appears to be effective at reducing recidivism risks for some serious crimes
(Sherman, 2009:2).
According to scholars of Criminology and Penology Schools, zero tolerance is the concept
of giving carte blanche to the police for the inflexible repression of minor offence, homeless
people and the disorders associated with them. This can be applied in a form of stop and
search upon people in the street and in a form of roadblocks conducted in the townships
and rural area public roads. Public drinkers must be arrested and fined. Two of the best
25
American specialists, Edward Maguire, an Administration of Justice Professor at George
Mason University and John Eck from the University of Cincinnati, rigorously evaluated all
the scientific work designed to test the efficiency of the police in the fight against crime
(Sherman, 2009:2). They concluded that neither the number of policemen engaged in the
battle, nor internal changes and organisational culture of law enforcement agencies (such
as the introduction of Community Policing) have by themselves impacted on the evolution
of offences. The crime decrease was not due to the work of the police and judiciary, but to
economic and demographic factors. The main factors were an unprecedented economic
growth of jobs for millions of young people, and a shift from the use of crack towards other
drugs.
2.6 Summary
In this chapter policing in South Africa was described. The situation during apartheid, where
black communities were confined to townships where there were no good cooperation
between the community and the police, was highlighted. The police were given unlimited
powers to use force so that the hegemony could be retained. Community Policing does not
imply that the police are no longer in authority or that the primary duty of preserving law and
order is subordinated. In Normative Sponsorship theory it was declared that most people
are of good will and are willing to co-operate with others to satisfy their needs. Whereas in
Critical Social theory focuses on how and why people coalesce to address socio-economic
and political obstacles which fulfill their needs. The broken window theory learns how the
environment should be kept in order to avoid truant behaviour from would be offenders.
Local government officials, social agencies, schools, church groups, business people, all
those who work and live in the community and have a stake in its development, should
share responsibility to find workable solutions to problems that detract from the safety and
security of the community. Police on every level must join in building a broad rapport with
community members to combat crime. It has been claimed in the broken window theory that
if a window is broken and takes long for it to be fixed, criminals will realise that the owner
does not care and they will continue breaking more windows. It is what occurs in the
communities. If swift actions such as patrolling streets, awareness campaigns and
prosecuting of offenders are taken, crime will be effectively combated. Zero tolerance is
26
another theory which is suiting this study because it has been postulated that is compelling
persons in position of authority, who might otherwise exercise their discretion in making
subject judgment regarding severity of a given offence, to impose a predetermined
punishment regardless of individual culpability or extenuating circumstances. The next
chapter will focus on the development of policing in the Lebowakgomo policing area.
27
CHAPTER 3
COMMUNITY POLICING FORUMS
3.1 Introduction In the previous chapter the development of policing in South Africa was discussed. The
Community Policing model was regarded as a correct model to be applied to address
community problems in South Africa. This concept gives every person the opportunity to
participate in crime prevention in partnership with the police.
In the present decade policing has received more attention and undergone more
changes than in the previous decades. An increased focus on policing has helped pave
the way to a new policing style. The most important changes are probably a greater
openness, a willingness to listen to criticism and open discussion.
3.2 The Establishment of Community Policing Forums. The new government passed Section 205(1) of the Constitution of the Republic of South
Africa, 1996 which provides for the establishment of National Police Service to function
at national, provincial and where appropriate, local spheres of government. Furthermore
section 19 of South African Police Act, Act 68 of 1995 provides for establishment of
Community Policing Forums (CPFs) at all police stations.
According to Stevens and Yach (1995:64) the forums will enable:
• increased accountability of the service to local communities and improved
co-operation of communities with the service.
• communities to monitor the effectiveness and efficiency of the service.
• communities to advise the police regarding local policing priorities.
In regard to the above, Section 221 of the Interim Constitution of Republic of South
Africa, 1993 provides for the establishment of the Community Policing Forums in
respect of police stations where their function will include:
o the promotion of accountability of the service to local communities and co-
operation of communities with the police.
o the monitoring of the effectiveness and efficiency of the service.
o advising the service regarding local policing priorities.
28
o the evaluation of the provision of visible police services including:
o the promotion, sitting and staffing of the police station.
o the reception and processing of complaints and charges.
o the provision of protective services at gatherings.
o the patrolling of residential and business area.
o the prosecution of offenders.
o requesting enquiries into policing matters in the locality concerns.
The architects of these provisions envisaged that representatives of the forums will be
democratically elected so that the community at large will recognise the persons on
Community Policing Forums as genuine representatives who have a mandate to act on
behalf of their local organisations and structures. The chairperson and vice chairperson
of the forums will be democratically elected and should not ordinarily be members of the
South African Police Service, although the police will provide the secretariat, if required.
According to Mufamadi (1995:1), the creation of a safe and secure environment can
only be achieved if there is full participation by the community in community policing. It
must therefore involve the whole society. He says that the misconception is that
Community Policing Forums are seen as structures which allow community members to
control policing. According to Mufamadi (1995:1) community policing forums can
promote local accountability, monitor effectiveness and efficiency of the service and
advise the service in relation to what the police should prioritise at local level. These are
functions which are vital for effective policing, but they do not mean that the community
can control policing in the sort of way which some people seem to think it should.
According to Mufamadi (1995:5) Community Policing Forums are structures within our
democracy. He says community poling forums are structures of a democratic state, and
are a site of transformation. The Community Policing Forums are seen as vehicles for
self enrichment or empowerment of the chairpersons of such forums. The forums are
not there to provide income and fancy offices for members nor are they established to
create empires for the chairpersons of such forums. Mufamadi,( 2005:8) states that the
chairperson should be seen as a facilitator or as someone who can help community
29
members get involved and ensure that the widest range of concerns on the part of all
sectors of the community are addressed. He says that it will be of little use if persons
playing roles as chairpersons of forums attempt to use the forums to ensure that their
own personal security problems are addressed. According to Ncholo (1994:7),
communities who have had negative relationship with their local police will be sceptical
about the implementation of community policing with the police in their present form.
They attempted to introduce it as a style of policing without undergoing structural and
cultural changes.
According to Stevens and Yach (1995:65) early attempts to establish community forums
of this nature were met with mixed results. Some were seen as simply cosmetic as part
of a public relations exercise which was concerned with re-orientating and refocusing
policing service delivery in any fundamental way. They say others have endured
because both communities and the police have recognised the tangible benefits that
flow from enhanced co-operation and mutual endeavours.
Stevens and Yach (1995:65) say that the Community Policing Forum must constantly
strive to focus on its activities as its primary aim. They say although every forum can
determine its own structure, an effective way to structure a Community Policing Forum
is to establish sub-committees to address every problem or specific need of the
community concerned. Examples of such committees could include the following:
• family violence - to address the problem of violence in the family. People
such as social workers, ministers of religion, psychologist and medical
personnel could serve as sub-committees together with the police in order
to address not only the symptoms but also the causes.
• training - to address the needs for expertise which are identified in the
police and the community with the available means in the community.
• crime - to plan and advise the police regarding specific crime problems,
such as gangsterism.
• recruiting - to research methods which enable the police to supplement
the manpower requirements of the police station area.
• community visitor system: to co-ordinate the visits of community visitor to
police cells.
30
• finance – to investigate the possibilities of obtaining and administering
funds for the CPF.
3.3 Working with Community In De Beer, et al.,(2003:262) it is said that as police work entails providing services to
communities, the development of co-operative police-community relations is vital. It
further says that every police officer knows, policing goes well beyond the mere
identification and apprehension of suspects.
The community expects a lot of their police, both as problem-solvers and as peace
keepers. In fact, the quality of life in a community, to a large degree, depends on the
quality of service being rendered by the police. According to the manual for SAPS
(1997:50) the most effective method of policing is one in which the community is
actively involved. It is said that when policing takes place in isolation, it results in us-
them working style which, inevitably, leads to conflict. It is also important to note that if
the police take sole responsibility for crime fighting, they must also take the sole
responsibility if crime is not reduced.
The police must do more than what was done in the past to engage the community in
the overall task of policing. This is what community policing is all about. Community
policing means that the community shares responsibility for dealing with crime and
other safety and security problems. However it is the responsibility of the police official
to motivate and encourage the community to become involved in securing safety and
security (De Beer, et al., 2003:50). According to Champion and Rush (1997:20)
community policing implies several things for neighbourhood residents. They say it
implies a more understanding and caring law enforcement component dedicated to
working in collaborative ways to resolve community crime problems. This implies a
more integrated community as citizens bond together in productive ways with the police
to make their neighbourhoods safer for themselves and their families.
Structured consultation between the police and the different communities about local
problems, policies, priorities and strategies is therefore essential. The overall goal of
31
structured consultation between the police and the community is to enhance the ability
of the police to combat and prevent crime, disorder and fear and to address other
community needs in partnership with the affected community (SAPS, 1997:50). To
achieve this goal, consultation should aim to:
• improve the delivery of policing services to the community;
• strengthen the partnership between the community and their police;
• promote joint problem identification and problem solving;
• ensure police accountability and transparency; and
• ensure consultation and proper communication between the police and their
clients.
3.4 The Establishment of a Community Police Forum follows particular steps
3.4.1 The role of the implementation committee. The implementation committee is the committee which is formed by the representatives
from all the station, unit or branch components and the community; the committee could
consist of:
• the station commander and /or the heads of proactive and reactive
policing;
• the Community Police Officer;
• a member representing each of the functional components such as crime
prevention unit, administrative staff, visible policing unit, detective, etc.
• a member representing each of the ranks of the station, unit or branch,
• other experts;
• representatives of the community.
The committee should accept responsibility for initiating and facilitating the process of
establishing a partnership formation, facilitated by the peace structures or other
facilitators.
3.4.2 Internal Empowerment The Implementation Committee should present a workshop or series of workshops for
all the members operating in a particular station area. The aim of these workshops
should be to explain the “why” and “how” of Community Policing in general and of police
32
community consultation in particular. It is important that the members of the
Implementation Committee become owners of the concept of Community Policing
before any such workshops are presented. It is also important that all other police
personnel that may operate in the station area (i.e members of the specialised units)
participate in the workshops and become stakeholders in the concept of Community
Policing (SAPS, 1997:52).
3.4.3 Assessing the current State of Affairs. Find out what type of police community liaison forums already exist in the station area if
any. Decide how best to approach and transform these existing structures in
accordance with the stipulation of the Constitution and the principles of Community
Policing. External facilitators may be used to assist the transformation process.
3.4.4 Lobbying “Communities of interest”. This step is to consult with the various communities of interest in the area about the
establishment and composition of a Community Policing Forum. This is necessary to
ensure that the CPF is indeed representative of the community. This implies that the
geographically defined community in a particular station area can consist of several
communities of interest such as women, children, and business people, the elderly,
home owners, tourists, unemployed persons etc. The Community Policing Forum
should, preferably reflect the views of as broad a range of these communities of interest
as possible. The community profile (SAPS, 1997: 52) can play a very important role in identifying the
various communities of interest with a stake in addressing crime and related problems.
Although the community profile will not, necessarily identify specific interest groups or
individuals by name, it will outline the following:
• Groups, institutions or individuals who have become victims of crime or are at
risk of becoming victims,
• Groups, institutions or individuals responsible for disproportionate
number of calls for service,
• Groups, institutions or individuals who may contribute towards
33
solving or alleviating the crime problems being experienced in community,
• Groups, institutions or individuals who have power or authority to
control or help treat those causing most of the problems. This information can
be used to involve those groups, individuals or Institutions who have a direct
stake in addressing crime. Membership of the Community Policing Forums
should not be restricted to groups identified through the community profile.
An invitation should be extended to call persons living in the particular area to
become involved.
3.4.4.1 Client Segmentation
Basic assumptions (often not scientificancy based) have been made about policing. The traditional philosophy assumes that all communities have essentially the same
need to be free from criminal activity though perhaps to different degrees and with
varying emphasis on specific types of crimes (Bureau of Justice,1994:6).
Watson, Stone and Deluca (1998:62) ask: “But what exactly do the community policing
people mean by “service”? And why should community differ in the “needs” for
“service”. If they do, how can you tell which services a community needs?
According to Roelofse (2007:19) normal business would take a target market to which it
would like to sell a product or services and apply the segmentation principle. He says
that a specific marketing mix consisting of product, price, promotion and distribution is
then developed to suit the needs of each segment to be serviced. It is implied that some
generic needs exist for society at large but that a needs research programme should be
launched by CPF to determine the detailed needs of the segments in its area of
influence (Roelofse, 2007:20). Effective community policing becomes viable when
segmentation leads not to fragmentation but to generic needs fulfilment mediated by
scientific reasoning. Facilitation of this process can be done by police scientists,
criminologists, psychologists, anthropologists, etc. According to Roelofse (2007:20) this
should bring about the correct policing strategy (anologous to marketing mix) for a
particular segment. This implies that both homogeneous and heterogeneous
communities exist.
34
3.4.4.2 Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) According to Roelofse (2007: 19) the Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD) has
been established in April 1997, under a mandate prescribed by the South African Police
Service Act, Act 68 of 1995. It has since been changed to The Independent Police
Investigative Directorate (IPID) with its own enabling legislation, Act 1 of 2011. The ICD
and its successor, the IPID is mandated to investigate complaints of criminality and
misconduct against members of the SAPS and the Municipal Police Services (MPS).
The IPID investigates the following:
• death of persons in the police custody or as results of police
action(such as shooting or assault);
• the involvement of SAPS members in criminal activities such as
assault theft, corruption, robbery, rape and any other criminal
offences;
• Police conduct or behaviour which is prohibited in terms of SAPS
Standing Orders or Police Regulations, such as neglect of duties to
comply with the Police Code of Conduct, dissatisfaction or complaint
about poor services given by police, for example, failure to assist or
protect victims of domestic violence as required by members of the
MPS (ICD brochure,2006); and
• Any complaint relating to the discharge of an official fire arm by any
police officer (IPID Act, 2011).
3.4.5. Holding a General Meeting Once the various communities of interest have been lobbied, a general meeting of all
community representatives should be held (SAPS, 1997:53). It is important that all
community groups should be represented at this meeting. The delegates to the general
meeting will then be able to nominate and elect persons to represent them on the
Community Policing Forum. Although this may seem to be a lengthily process it is
crucial that the community should be satisfied with the representation and legitimacy of
the elected representatives, some groups with specific skill be co-opted to the
Community Policing Forums.
35
3.4.6 Formal Consultation The group of community representatives (De Beer, et al., 2003:265) who were elected
during the general meeting will now embark on a process of consultation with the police.
A meeting of all the newly elected representatives should be held as soon as possible.
At this meeting, attention should be given to the following:
• the election of a chairperson (who should be a civilian member of the community
Policing Forum) a vice-chairperson, a secretary and a treasurer and additional
members to form the Executive Committee of the Community Policing Forum, and
• the drafting of a constitution.
3.5. The Election of Office-bearers Apart from the three particulars mentioned above the election of other members of the
Executive Committee may be postponed until the constitution has been accepted
(SAPS,1997:54). Should this option be chosen, the members of the steering committee
may form an interim Executive Committee. The members of the Community Policing
Forum should decide for themselves how best to deal with this issue.
3.6 The Drafting of a Constitution In SAPS (1997:54) a written constitution has the following advantages:
• it lends structure and authority to the CPF;
• it focuses and directs the activities of the Community Policing Forum;
• it serves as a marketing tool in that it contains a mission statement and
statement of values and objectives that can be communicated to the wider
community;
• it determines the management of funds, assets and resources and
• a consultation is required by the most MECs.
3.7 The structure of the Community Policing Forum (CPF) and the functions and
mandate of its various substructures The Community Policing Forum may involve representatives from many interested
community groupings and the structure may become difficult to control. The Community
36
Policing Forum (SAPS,1997:57) may therefore be structured as follows:
• All interested parties form a plenary session which meets from time to time to
discuss community needs, receive reports from the Executives Committee and
Working Groups, and to instruct to these two bodies. A plenary session should
at least be held on a quarterly basis. The executive committee should be
elected from members of the Community Policing Forum and should preferably
not consist of more than 5-8 members. The members elected to the Executive
Committee should be impartial, enthusiastic, committed to goals of community-
police cooperation, and most importantly have the time to actively participate in
the workings of the Community Policing Forum.
• The Station Commander should be ex officio member of the Executive
committee. The Executive Committee should be responsible for all tasks referred
to it by the Community Policing Forum and should deal with its day to day
functioning.
• The plenary of the Community Policing Forum and or the Executive Committee
may identify community representatives and other experts to serve on specific
working group. Members should be appointed to working groups on the basis of
their ability to contribute to the solution of a specific problem. Police
representatives may be included in working groups when police input is required
and when the police are able to participate. Working groups should be
responsible for investigating particular problems and for developing possible
solutions. These solutions should be forwarded to the Executive Committee for
approval, maintenance and monitoring. If necessary, the Executive Committee
may call a plenary meeting of the CPF to get the necessary approval for a
particular proposed solution. A working group should be seen as a short-term
body with a single focus. Some working groups, however such as a working
group on police community relations may be relatively permanent structures.
• The functioning of a CPF will depend on its ability to secure the necessary
37
funding. While it is envisaged that funds for Community Policing Forums will in
future be made available from the budget of the Central and or Provincial
Government these funds will most probably not be sufficient to cover all
expenses and to allow for all the activities and plans of the Community Policing
Forum. A possible solution to this problem may be the establishment of a
Funding Foundation. The Foundation’s main objective should be to obtain and
control the funds necessary to implement the programmes decided upon by the
CPF. The Foundation could embark on a fund raising campaign and should
explore all possible sources of funding including local, regional, national and
international community and business groups, governmental bodies and non
governmental organisations.
• The trustees of the Foundation should preferably be elected from community
organisations, the business sector and the churches (De Beer, et al., 2003:271).
The Foundation should be based on the recommendations of the CPF, its
Executive Committee and /or the working groups determine how the available
funds will be used. The financial records of such a Foundation should be open
to public scrutiny and should be audited annually.
3.8 A working Model for Community Policing Forums A working model that may be used by the Community Policing Forum in the pursuance
of its goal is described. It should be noted that the model serves as a guide and should,
therefore not be seen as prescriptive policing (SAPS, 1997:60).
In terms of this model, the activities of Community Policing Forums can be divided into
5 focus areas namely:
3.8.1 Focus area 1: Community needs. In terms of section 68 of South African Police Service Act of 1995 that responds to the
Section 22 of Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1993, which the community
has the power to monitor, evaluate, and advise the police, and or to enquire into
policing matters. In order to facilitate these functions, an operational plan may be
drawn up.
38
3.8.1.1 Step 1: Compile a comprehensive community profile. A community profile is a planning tool which will allow the CPF and IPID to obtain the
best possible information on the needs problems and priorities of a specific community.
3.8.1.2 Step 2 and 3: Consulting the community and determining priorities. The process of identifying problems will invariably result in more problems that can be
addressed. Because of limited resources, it is necessary to assign some priority to the
problems identified. For this purpose a process of consultation with the CPF will be
made by Implementation Committee.
The Community Policing Forum or its Executive Committee should compile a list of all
the policing and crime related problems and issues that need to be addresses based on
the results of the community profile. The next step will be to categorise all inter-related
problems and issues. A plenary of the Community Policing Forum would then have to
identify and prioritise two or three specific issues that deserve priority attention. These
include crime related issues, community relation issues and service delivery issues.
Crime related issues are the following: • specific crimes and crime-related problems such as drug abuse
housebreaking, theft, the hijacking of vehicles and intimidation; and • the need for specific crime prevention programmes.
Community relations issues are: • the need to combat community apathy; and • race relations problems.
Service delivery issues are: • the equality of service rendered in the community service centre;
• establishment of mechanisms to promote police accountability and
transparency; and
• the establishment of mechanisms for feedback on the progress of
investigations.
39
3.8.1.3 Step 4: problem solving After priorities have been determined problem solving techniques should be introduced
in order to develop solutions for the identified problems. However, before starting the
problem solving process, the Community Policing Forum or its Executive Committee
should first decide whether the issues decided upon require the attention of a working
group. If necessary a working group or groups may be formed to solve the problems
referred to it.
3.8.1.4 Step 5: implementation plan Once the problem has been identified analysed and a strategy to deal with it is planned,
a comprehensive implementation plan should be developed.
An implementation plan should clearly set out the following:
• Goals
• Objectives
• Strategies
• Action steps
• Responsibilities
• Budgeting
• Time frames
• Monitoring and evaluation criteria and methods
Goals and objectives should always be precise, realistic and measurable and should
aim to address the problem in the short, medium and long term. It is also important to
articulate as clearly as possible what the objectives of each strategy are and the criteria
to be used to determine their impact (De Beer, et al., 2003:276).
3.8.2 Focus area 2: Resources Finances, logistical support and human resources will be required to implement the
plan. Identification and activation of resources should, preferably, concide with the
drafting of an implementation plan as resource availability will affect the plan.
The Community Policing Forum should investigate and evaluate the availability of
community resources, and to formulate ways and means to activate and mobilise such
resources through a process of community and inter agency liaison and co-operation.
40
Once an implementation and resources plan have been finalised by the working groups,
they should be presented to the Community Policing Forum or Executive Committee for
confirmation, approval and implementation. The working groups should ensure that the
representatives do report back to their constituencies. The agreed upon action plan/s
should now be implemented and be linked to time tables and responsibilities.
3.8.3 Focus area 3: Evaluation According to SAPS (1997:66) evaluation is a broad term that usually encompasses the
following:
• Monitoring the implementation of a particulars operational plan (also known as
process evaluation) is carried out continuously through out the implementation of
the operational plan and starts on the day on which the plan is implemented. It
is concerned with determining whether the plan is implemented correctly and
deals with questions such as: Are the steps in the operational plan followed
properly? Are there any problems in- the implementation plan that should be
modified? Is the plan working? If not, why not?
• Secondly, evaluating the impact of an implementation plan (also known as
impact evaluation). This means assessing the consequences or outcomes of
the implementation plan, in other words assessing the effect that the plan has on
the problem.
• Thirdly, monitoring and evaluating the general efficiency and effectiveness of
policing in the particular area. In terms of current Constitution communities may:
a. monitor the progress the police are making with regard to the
implementation of a specific operational plan;
b. evaluate the impact of a specific operational plan to determine the
success thereof (impact evaluation);
c. to evaluate the general efficiency and effectiveness of the service,
especially as far as the following is concerned;
d. the provision, siting and staffing of the police;
e. the reception and processing of complaints and charges;
f. the provision of protective services at gatherings;
41
g. the patrolling of residential area, business; and
h. the prosecution of residential offenders (general evaluation).
It should be noted that no monitoring evaluation or evaluation can be done without the
formulation of performance evaluation criteria and the development of evaluation
instruments. It is therefore necessary for the CPF to build specific evaluation criteria
and instruments. It is the prerogative of the Station Commander to form the evaluation
panel. Ideally the Panel should, at least, consist of Station Commander, local Detective
Commander, the Commander of the Problem- Solving Team and a member of the CPF.
If necessary, other experts may be co- opted to the Evaluation Panel (De Beer, et al.,
2003:325).
Decision makers must be able to judge the strategy’s impact and cost effectiveness and
cost effectiveness and police organisation must be able to measure the success or
failure of its policies activities. Many indications of success of community policing efforts
are intangible (e.g. absence of fear, quality of interaction with community member, etc)
therefore, assessing a community policing strategy is a qualitative as well as
quantitative (De Beer, et al., 2003:383). They said that three major criteria –
effectiveness, efficiency and equity can be used to provide the quantitative and
qualitative measures needed to assess the success of a community policing strategy.
3.8.4 Focus area 4: Transparency De Beer, et al., (2003:283) the promotion of accountability of the service to local
communities also demands greater police transparency, in other words it means that
the police should open themselves up to public scrutiny by:
• launching community visitor schemes;
• organising open days at the police station;
• making crime statistics and other managerial information available to the
Community Policing Forum and to the wider community;
• establishing more direct channels of communication between the community and
the management of a station, branch or unit;
• inviting members of the CPF to attend management meetings at the station,
branch or unit;
42
• inviting members of the CPF to address personnel during station lectures;
• inviting members of the CPF to conduct impromptu visits to the station’s detective service, and
• inviting community members to join police patrols.
3.9 Problems met by Community Policing Forums There are various problems encountered by Community Policing Forums. Since the
Community Policing Forum is a new phenomenon in the history of the South African
Police Service, communities do not know much about them. The police themselves do
not seem to be capable of marketing this product in a creative and innovative manner
(Badumuti, 1996:1).
There is another problem in terms of different people from one organisation that attend
meetings and sometimes they don’t attend at all (Badumuti, 1996:7). Only senior
officers attend the meetings namely the Station Commander or his deputy, but Branch
Commanders failed to do so. Police members of lower ranks do not participate in the
meetings and are the ones who should do so because most of the time they are
involved with communities on a daily basis. They are the ones who visit the scene of
crimes. It is imperative that police members at Lebowakgomo Police Station must
change to become community police officers. Divisions between the members at the
station must be addressed in order to combat crime effectively and the improving of
good relationship between the police and the members of the forums must be
addressed. Badumuti (1996:7) says that Community Policing Forums have neglected to
empower the community to participate in the forums as equal partners. The majority of
our country’s communities have over the years developed a negative attitude towards
the police; they were seen as enforcers of unjust laws. Empowering the community to
be equal partners with the police will be a long and drawn out process and it does not
require the police alone to do it. A multifaceted approach involving all stakeholders with
the community itself at the forefront is needed to ensure that the process is a success.
3.10 Community Policing Forums and Community Empowerment The implementation committee should present a workshop or series of workshops for all
43
the police members operating in a particular station area. The aim of these workshops
should be to explain the “why” and “how” of community policing in general and of police-
community consultation in particular. It is important that the members of the
implementation committee become owners of the concept of community policing before
any such workshops are presented. It is also important that all other police personnel
(i.e. members of the specialised units) that may operate in the station area participate in
the workshops and become stakeholders (Policing IV Generic Reader 2003:264).
Because community policing practitioners often attempt to implement community
policing initiatives for the community there is frequently a degree of deception.
According to Badumuti (1996:8), once the community has been empowered, willingness
to exercise their responsibility and obligation to involve themselves in community
policing, crime prevention, and safety will be the result. He says community
empowerment will need to go along with educational programmes that aim at enabling
the community to participate meaningfully in consultations with the police. Within the
community, citizens must share in the rights and responsibilities implicit in identifying,
prioritising and solving problems as full fledged partners with law enforcement officers
(Trojaniwicz, 1997:7).
More resources should be channelled towards combating crime and ensuring the safety
and security of all citizens. Preparedness to fight crime on the part of the community will
only be realised when there is willingness from the police to do likewise. Paying lip
service will not bring any solution (Badumuti, 1996:8). He says in some cases it is found
that criminals have befriended the police to such an extent that for them to arrest such a
person becomes only a remote possibility. He further says that the police need to
conduct some form of research in order to get a clear picture of what the communities
need and what their problems are. This will lead to situations where communities realise
the importance of co-operating with the police in providing suggestions and solutions to
problems. There is also a need to democratise the entire process. CPFs should not be
seen as elitist formations of prominent community leaders and senior police officers but
should involve even marginalised people at grassroots level and junior police officials.
They are not respecting members of the service who are appointed as co-ordinators
and further they are not showing respect to high ranking members in the station. If the
44
Station Commander is not available and they are in need of something in a form of help
they are afraid to approach them. Community Policing Forums should not be seen as
consisting only, of prominent community leaders and police officers. Community
representatives should come from the street, ward and section level (Badumuti,
1996:8).
The Police Stations that serve the area will have access to most of the policing
resources and Station Commanders within an area will work together as a dynamic
problem solving team. Within the police, members will have a high level of job
satisfaction due to the challenging and rewarding nature of community policing based
on grassroots problem solving. Community Policing Forums will unselfishly look at their
area as a whole and creatively work with all role players to find creative solutions.
Having a wide and broad representation will ensure democratic control of all activities
initiated by the forum. According to Badumuti (1996:8) the community must feel that
they own such activities and guarantee maximum participation from all levels. He says
that having representation from grassroots level will ensure the petty conflicts for
instance a squabble involving two or three families, might be regarded by the forum as
minor. Educational programmes should also involve people from grassroots level. It is
necessary that workshops are conducted, not only for senior and prominent leaders and
senior police officers, but for school going youth, the unemployed, women, the aged and
all sectors of society that are generally affected by crime. The involvement of grassroots
people in combating crime will only materialise once they are empowered to understand
the benefits and the advantages of ensuring their own safety and security. The role of
the CPFs in this instance is of critical importance and its relevance will be highlighted if
it is fully engaged in such activities.
3.11 Objectives of Community Policing Forums and Boards
Stevens and Yach (1995:6) say that the service shall, in order to achieve the objectives
contemplated in Section 215 of the Interim Constitution of Republic of South Africa, Act
200 of 1993, liaise with the communities through Community Policing Forums, area and
provincial community police boards, as provided for in Sections 19, 20 and 21, with a
view to :
• establish and maintaining a partnership between the community and the
45
service;
• promoting communication between the service and the community;
• promoting co-operation between the service and the community
addressing the needs of the community regarding policing;
• improving the rendering of the services to the community at national;
provincial, area and local level;
• improving transparency in the service and the accountability of the service
to the community, and
• promoting joint problem-solving by the service and the community.
The establishment of Community Policing Forum and Boards, which should be broadly
representative of the community, is of crucial importance. This should be seen as a co-
operative effort to facilitate the process of problem-solving. The main objective of this
partnership is to determine, through consultation, community needs and policing
priorities and to promote police accountability, transparency and effectiveness.
3.12 Summary
It shows that without co-ordination and co-operation between the community and
Community Policing Forums, that crime cannot effectively and efficiently be combated.
Community Policing is collaboration between the police and community to identify and
solve community problems. Word of mouth is an effective tool in spreading the
message and informed CPF members can empower their communities to have a say in
their own safety and eradicate crime and criminals from their area.
Community Policing Forum can promote local accountability, monitor effectiveness and
efficiency of the service and advising the service in relation to what the police should
prioritise at local level. Communities who have had negative relationship with their local
police will be sceptical about the implementation of community policing and crime such
as house breaking and rapes will still be committed. In the next chapters, the research
findings regarding the functions of Community Policing Forums in the Lebowakgomo
Policing area will be discussed. It will be evaluated against the discussion in the chapter
of what is expected from Community Policing Forums.
46
CHAPTER 4
DATA PRESENTATION AND FINDINGS
4.1 Introduction In this chapter the findings of the research conducted is presented. The research was
limited to Lebowakgomo Policing Area and the data was collected by means of structured
interviews which targeted the members of the Community Policing Forums and Sector
managers. The structured interviews were conducted with ten (10) CPF managers, five
(5) Sector managers and ten (10) of fifty two (52) elected chairpersons from sub-forums.
The information gathered from the interviewed persons was about the implementation of
Community Policing Forums implementation in the Lebowakgomo Area.
The columns and rows of the tables have been numbered in such a way that an alpha-
numerical code can be used to refer to the respondents’ reaction to questions in three
categories (see 1,2 and 3 in table 1 below) can be used. For example B3 refers to
respondent B (column) and 3 (row) to a sub-forum chairperson.
Objective 1
Describe the level of co-operation between the Community Policing Forums and
the SAPS A number of questions have been asked to establish whether there is cooperation
between the police and CPF’s.
Question 1: How would you describe the level of co-operation between the police
and CPFs?
Table 1: Level of cooperation
1 2 3
Respondent CPF Managers Sector Managers Sub–forum
Representatives
A
Yes, it is good when coming to reported cases.
No, CPF are not involved in the project which will assist in problem solving.
No, when reporting the case
they do not come on time.
47
B
Yes, we are being involved when discussing about crime.
Yes, there is good co-operation when there is crime issues but not such as recruitment for police development.
Yes, when the meeting is about to be held or when decision is to be taken in regard to door to door campaign.
C
Yes, we are involved when but in most cases it can be seen when there is social order.
Yes, when the crime has been committed and police need help.
Yes, we are being involved when there is a dispute and creation of project for crime prevention.
D
Yes, when there is awareness campaign.
Yes, it is good when we want to combat crime.
Yes, community policing forums is invaded when patrolling the streets during the night.
E
Yes, it is minimal particularly when we want to participating in strategic planning.
To combat crime. No opinion
F
Yes, we have are involved when there is a dispute and creation of projects for prevention of crime.
No, police come late when called to attend complaints.
G
Yes, CPF and police co-operate when combating crime and launching of projects to prevent crime.
Yes, they are doing well on certain cases such as domestic violence.
H
Yes, there is good liaison but not involved when good decision is to be taken.
Yes, to a certain extent, they are doing very well in solving crime.
I
Yes, there is an interaction when crime has been committed.
Yes, there is co-operation when launching some campaign.
J
Yes, there is good co-operation particularly crime prevention members.
Yes, but some members of the force divulge information to criminals.
48
Deduction: Respondents from all three clusters agree that there is good cooperation
between the police and the CPF and sectors. Only three (3) of twenty-five (25) did not
agree with the statement i.e. 88% of respondents agree. Two respondents, both sub-
forum managers, stated that police reaction to calls after crime has been committed is
slow (See A3 and F3). It should be noted that these two respondents are at the sector
level and as such more in touch with victims of crime. The fact that there is agreement
from respondents in the three groups supports the notion that there is good cooperation
between the police and the CPF and sub-forums.
Question 2: Does a partnership between the police and CPFs exist?
Table 2: Partnership
1 2 3
Respondent CPF Managers
Sector Managers
Sub–forum
Representatives
A
Yes, the community involve itself in the awareness campaigns.
Yes, particularly when the crime has been committed and partnership reinforce trust facilitates the exchange of information.
Yes, we are able to solve problems together such as neighbourhood conflicts.
B
Yes, police are being invited to address the community in regard to crime particularly to combat gangsterism emerged at some schools in the police area.
Yes, without facts, police officer cannot solve crime or social problems.
Yes, the challenge police face in getting information is that there must be some level of trust for citizen to cooperate with police.
C
Yes, there is good partnership between the police and community as they are patrolling hot spot together during the night.
Yes, we created project such as Child on Sport and Adopt Cops at various schools
Yes, police recognise the effectives of the problem solving approached there is a growing awareness that community involvement is essential for its success.
49
D
Yes, it seems as they are involved, considering their interaction.
Yes, to operate effectively the police need to devote attention to and recognise the validity of community concerns.
Yes, establishing and maintaining mutual trust is the central goal of the first come component community partnership.
E
Yes, rally to promote partnership in combating crime is being held.
Yes, as result of good partnership we managed reduce crime of stock theft where we manage to encourage stock owner to mark their livestock.
Yes, special unit such Family Violence Offence and Sexual and Child Offence is involved to educate families and children about abuses.
F
Yes, street committees and neighbourhood watches were launched with partnership with the police.
Yes
G
Yes, traditional leaders as well as farmers participate.
No, interaction is happening when the crime has been committed police do not come on time hence partnership do not exist as such.
H
No, sometimes members of the community are hiding criminals.
Yes, we help to solve domestic and neighbourhood conflicts e.g. family violence.
I
No, unless if the police need help after crime has been committed.
Yes, we visit to residents in their homes to offer advice or security.
J
No, interaction is happening when the crime has been committed. Police do not come on time when called hence partnership do not exist.
Yes, we are helping to organise and support neighbourhood water groups and regular community meeting.
50
Deduction: It can be concluded that partnership is prevailing among CPFs managers
and police as there are only four (4) respondents who did not agree with the statement.
84% of respondents confirm that there is a partnership. It should be noted though that
the dissenting voices are about reaction to crime, such as community members hiding
criminals and complaints about reaction on calls for help after perpetration of crime. (see
H1, I1, J1 and G3). Respondents G3 and J1 stated that the partnership is affected by the
poor reaction of the police when called after a crime has been reported. Despite this, the
overwhelming majority of respondents are of the opinion that there is a good partnership.
QUESTION 3: Do the police have regular contact with CPF?
Table 3: Police contact with CPF 1 2 3
Respondent CPF Managers Sectors Managers Sub- forum
Representatives
A Yes, when there is serious issue to be discussed.
Yes Yes, if there are campaigns or meetings is going to be held.
B Yes Yes Yes
C Yes Yes, particularly if there is a problem to be solved.
Yes, when there is a meeting and crime awareness campaigns.
D Yes, if awareness campaign or meeting.
Yes Yes
E Yes Yes Yes
F Yes
Yes
G Yes
Yes
H Yes, if there is going to be awareness campaigns.
Yes
I Yes
Yes
J Yes, regularly to discuss crime.
Yes
51
All respondents agree that there is regular contact between the police and the CPF.
QUESTION 4: Do the police involve CPF in crime prevention?
Table 4: Police involve CPF in crime prevention?
1 2 3
Respondent CPF Managers Sector Managers Sub-forum Representative
A Yes, when conducting crime campaigns.
Yes, sometimes when launching projects to prevent crime.
No, is only when there is a social order, is then when we are involved.
B Yes, CPFs are involved when patrolling streets to combat house robberies.
Yes, they are giving police information when want to effect arrest for wanted suspect.
Yes, neighbourhood watches are launched to patrol street during the nights.
C CPFs are accompanying the police to address the school children at schools about crime.
Yes, street committees and neighbourhood watches are being involved to patrol street during nights.
We are involved when holding making campaigns against crime.
D We involve neighbourhood watches and street committees to combat.
No, sometimes they are afraid of being victimised and regarded as spies.
Yes
E Yes, CPF involve when police need information.
Sometimes because may divulge plans to criminal to defeat justice.
Yes, we are involved when there are cases like stock theft have been reported and inform police about the suspect.
F We distribute newsletters in the area about crime and how the police should conduct themselves.
We established whistle blowers and street committees.
52
G Yes, CPFs monitor and evaluate the service rendered by the police and make recommendation how effective method to combat crime to be applied.
Yes, problems such as domestic violence and drug abuse.
H Yes, launched street committees to fight crime.
Addressing the members regarding local policing priorities.
I Yes Yes, social workers and other professionals are involved to solve family disorder.
J Yes, we educate people about their particular problematic situation and their potential capacity to change their situation in order to meet their unmet needs.
The Child in Sports and Cop soccer were created to encourage school children and youth to be involved in sports in order to avoid them not easily to be prey of crime.
Most respondents agree that police involve them in crime prevention like when
accompanying them to address the school children about crime, street committees and
neighbourhood watches, patrolling street during the nights. It is only two respondents
(D2 and E2), who do not agree. E2 stated “No, sometimes they are afraid of being
victimised and regarded as spies.” Although this is only one respondent’s opinion, it is
something that cannot be ignored within the historical context of policing in South Africa.
Question 5: Apart from meetings, do the police / CPF regularly communicate?
Table 5: Police/CPF communications 1 2 3
Respondent CPF Managers Sectors managers Sub-forum
Representatives
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A Yes, when conducting some crime awareness campaign.
Yes, if there is serious crime particularly house breaking and house robberies.
Sometimes if there is issue to be discussed.
B Yes, when addressing communities in regard to crime.
Yes, invited by members of community to address them about crime.
Yes
C Yes, during soccer matches.
Yes, patrolling of streets during the nights.
Yes, when the project is being launched.
D Yes Yes Yes
E Yes, when conducting crime awareness campaign.
Yes, when important guests are visiting the area.
Yes, when the police need assistance from the community.
F Yes Yes
G Yes, when holding campaign meeting.
Yes, when police need help we are invited.
H Yes Yes, if the police encounter problem in the communities we are meeting.
I Yes Yes J Yes Yes
The question refers to regular contact. The majority responses (52%) refers to contact
based on special needs. The respondents agree with the statement that there is
communication particularly when conducting crime awareness campaigns, when police
need assistance from the community and when encountering problems in the
communities. At face value, it seems as if there is regular communication. However,
most respondents qualified their responses. In Table 5, the words considered as
qualifying the responses have been bolded. A total of 13 responses have qualifying
words. This means 13 out of 25 responses are qualified.
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Objective 2
Describe the activities of the Community Policing Forums and Sub-forums in the
Lebowakgomo (policing area) to improve service delivery to the public A total of five questions have been posed to respondents to assess this objective.
Table 6
QUESTIONS 1: Do CPF members ensure that poor service delivery is reported to
police management? 1 2 3
Respondent CPF Managers Sector Managers Sub-forum
Representatives
A We report discrepancy to the station commanders or senior person.
Yes Yes, we report poor services to the station commander but there is little improvement.
B Yes, poor service reported but management will respond that there is lack of resources.
Yes, we encourage training of police members.
Yes
C Yes Yes Yes D Yes Yes Yes E Yes We report poor
services to the management in order to improve service delivery.
Yes
F Yes Yes G Yes Yes, to improve a good
partnership and accountability.
H Yes Yes I Yes Yes J Yes, we report
poor services in order to create responsibility and accountability.
Yes
Deduction: According to the participants it was found that all confirmed that poor service
55
delivery is reported or gets some form of response.
Table 7
Question 2: Do CPF members ensure that corrective steps are taken in case of
poor service delivery? 1 2 3
Respondent CPF Managers Sector Managers Sub-forum
Representatives
A Yes, in service training to members.
Yes, workshops are being held.
No, we cannot discipline police members.
B Yes, sometimes we inform the Station Commanders to take disciplinary measures.
We encourage the management to send the members to undergo some courses.
No, we are regarded as spies by some of police members.
C Yes, we are writing a letter to Provincial Commissioner to intervene if the Station Commander could not address the problem.
Yes, we are informing Station Section Commanders.
Station Commander is being informed.
D Yes Yes Sometimes we’re informing the Station Commander.
E Yes Yes Yes, informing the Station Commander.
F Yes, during lecture session the Station Commander inform police officials.
Yes, we are reporting to Station Commander during meetings.
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G Yes we discuss it during meetings and inform the Station Commander to take relevant steps.
Yes, are reporting it to Station Commanders.
H Yes, we report any poor work to Station Commander.
Yes
I Yes Yes J Yes Yes, inform Station
Commander to address the matter.
Deduction: According to the majority of respondents corrective steps are taken to
address poor service delivery and that can be confirmed, as the letter was written to
Provincial Commissioner to address the shortage of manpower at the police station (C1).
Only two (2) of twenty five (25) respondents did not agree with the statement as they
said that could not discipline police members. However it is clear from a number of
responses that the respondents feel that once they reported a matter it is sufficient to
ensure that corrective action is taken. (See C2, C3, D3, E2, F3, G3, H1 and J3).
Question 3: Do CPFs make follow-ups on reported crime to ensure proper reaction
to calls by victims?
Table 8: Follow-ups on reported crime 1 2 3
Respondent CPF Managers Sector managers Sub-forum
Representatives
A No, sometimes. Yes No, we do not have phones to contact police regularly.
B Not always as sometimes we do not know the investigating officer.
No No
C We do not have facilities to contact the police.
Yes, will find that other investigating officers are not co-operative.
Sometimes when you phone, you cannot get a proper answer.
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D Yes Yes Not always.
E Yes Yes No
F No No G Yes Sometimes we do not
know investigating officer.
H Not always. Yes if the case is serious.
I Yes No J No No
Deduction: Out of the 25 respondents, 10 said that follow-up enquiries are not made,
while 8 say that it is done. Seven respondents gave answers that indicate that it is not
always done ( See A1, G3 – sometimes; B1,D3 and H1 – not always).The respondents
that are of the opinion that follow-ups are not made or only sometimes made represents
40% and 28% respectively or a total of 68%.
It is clear that the first reaction to crime, i.e. the police attending to the call is not well
attended to.
Question 4: Do CPF make follow-ups on progress with investigations?
Table 9: Follow-ups on progress with investigations
1 2 3
Respondent CPF Managers Sector Managers Sub-forum
Representatives
A Not always, it depends on seriousness of crime.
No, unless the victim wants development in regard to the case.
No, unless the victim needs progress.
B No, unless there is a complaint in regard to investigation.
Yes, but not always. Yes, it depends what kind of the case.
C Yes, if there is a complaint then we inform Station Commander to keep a watchful eye.
Yes No
D Yes Yes Yes
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E Yes Yes No, if we’re sent by the victim.
F Yes Yes
G Yes Yes
H Yes. if there is a complaint we then intervene.
Yes, if the victim complain about the progress.
I Yes Yes, if the circumstances force that we should intervene.
J Yes If there is a complaint in regard to the victim`s case.
Deduction: Twelve respondents (48%) made qualifying statements. Responses that
include words such as “if”; “unless”; and not “always” were taken as qualified responses.
This means that follow-up on the investigation progress is not routinely done but it
depends on mainly complaints by the victim. An equal number of respondents gave an
unqualified “yes” as a reply to this question. There is thus an almost fifty/fifty split in the
responses.
Question 5: Are victims’ rights protected by the CPF and feedback given to them? All respondents agree with the statement that victims’ rights are protected by CPFs and
feedback is given to them where they do not satisfied the matter is reported to Station
Commander further Victims Empowerment Centre has been erected to accommodate
Domestic Violence victims.
Table 10: Victims’ rights
1 2 3
Respondent CPF Managers Sector Managers Sub-forum
Representatives
A Yes Yes, rights are protected and rallies are being held in regard to abuses of children, woman and disabled person.
Yes, lectures are being held in regard to Domestic Violence Act.
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B Yes Yes, we are distributing some pamphlets on Bill of Rights.
Yes during campaigns abuse communities about human rights.
C Yes Yes Yes D Yes, school,
churches, villagers are visited to educate the youth about human rights.
Yes Yes
E Educational programmes are presented and victims are given feedback in regard to their complaints.
Yes, workshop is being conducted and feedback given to victims.
Yes, any complaint relating to abuse power by the police is investigated and feedback is given to the victim.
F Dissatisfaction or complaints about poor service given by police e.g. failure to assist or protect victim is reported to IPID.
Yes, involvement of SAPS in as far criminal activities such as corruption is regarded.
G Particularly domestic violence is kept in the Victim Empowerment Centre and advises to open case if their rights were violated.
Yes
H Yes Sometimes. I Yes Yes J Representatives
from Department of Justice and Constitutional Development workshop victims in regard to domestic violence and feed back is given in regard to investigation of their cases.
Yes, victims are highlighted to their rights and feedback is given if she/ he reported a case.
Deduction: It is clear that participants agree that victims’ rights are protected. There was
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not a single dissenting response. The responses can be summarized into four
categories.
Yes- without any clarification – 10
Educational aspects, information and training to community members on victim rights - 7
(see A2; A3; B2: B3: D1; E1 and E2).
Action related responses such as giving feedback to complaints and investigations – 4
(See E3; F1; F3; and G1).
Objective 3
Question 1: Is the CPF /police in a successful partnership?
Most of respondents agree with the statement as to whether there is CPF/ police
successful partnership respondents alleged that crime decreased particularly
housebreaking and house robberies. They managed to visit schools and churches to
workshop children in regard to crime and recently few complaints were reported. See
table 11.
Table: 11 CPF /police partnership
1 2 3
Respondent CPF Managers Sector Managers Sub-forum
Representatives
A Yes, crime decreased particularly house breaking and house robberies.
Yes, most people began to understand how Community Policing is working.
Yes, good relationship between communities and police improves.
B Yes, police and community began to understand each other.
Yes, police are able to get information without a hindrance.
Yes, crime has decreased.
C Yes, police and CPF able to solve problems.
Yes No, lack of proper support and cooperation by some members of SAPS and police management.
D Yes No, most CPF members lack skills and knowledge.
No, police take long time to attend complaints.
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E No, there is not enough manpower to attend complaints.
No, some members of CPF hide criminals.
Yes
F Yes Yes
G No, lack of funds and support from top management.
Yes, police accompany us during crime awareness campaigns.
H Yes, we managed to solve more crime such as house robberies and rapes.
Yes, we managed to solve crime.
I Yes Yes, many reports about crime decreased.
J Yes, we visit schools and churches to workshop children about crime and few complaints are reported.
Yes, we managed to solve gangsterism in township schools.
Deduction: it was deducted that only six (6) of twenty five (25) respondents did not agree
with the statement. They raised factors such as most CPFs members lack skills and
knowledge to make forums to work effectively. Lack of funds, proper support and
cooperation by some members of SAPS and police management.
Objective 3
Assess the level of perception of respondents on the police and CPF success /
failure
Question 2: Do you think crime has been reduced as a result of CPF/ police
activities? All respondents supported the statement and further alleged that awareness campaigns
to combat crime were established. They visited hot spots regularly and also involving
Crime Intelligence Analysis Centre (CIAC) to update them on crime trends and patterns.
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Table 12: Crime reduction 1 2 3
Respondent CPF Managers Sector Managers Sub-forum
Representatives
A Yes, awareness campaigns to combat crime were launched.
Yes, rallies were conducted to educate community in regard to crime.
Yes, projects are being made to combat crime.
B Yes, we are making door to door campaigns to reduce crime.
Yes, we participate in crime preventing on foot patrol.
Yes, we are accompanying police to patrol the street on weekends.
C Yes, neighbourhood watch is conducted.
Yes, hot sport areas are visited regularly to patrol.
Yes
D Yes, to involve business people and youth desk to combat crime give good results.
Yes, involvement of sector communities such as taxi owners, youth, and family representative to prevent crime yield good result.
Yes, patrol street during the day avoid house breaking when their owners went to places of employment.
E Yes, CPF and police co-operate when combating crime and launching to projects to prevent crime.
Yes, when CPF arrangement in the villages to educate them about crime.
Yes
F Yes Yes, since introduced and established the concept of sector policing all the role players can make contribution to crime prevention initiatives in their sectors.
G Yes, CPF as well as the police reservist assisted in the initial identification of community interest to establish sector crime forum (CPF).
Yes, neighbourhood watch approach was implemented.
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H Yes, liaised with external role player on behalf of sector managers to facilitate the implementation of long term pro-active strategies.
Yes, consulted Crime Intelligence Analysis Centre (CIAC) managers to establish crime trends, tendencies and patterns in different sectors.
I Yes Yes
J Yes, Adopt a Cop project and promotion of Youth Programme at school within the sectors.
Yes
Respondents in all three groups agree that there has been a reduction in crime within
the precinct. It was found that crime statistics showed that crime has increased e.g.
business burglaries, robberies, theft of motor vehicle and in some cases like burglaries
(house), house robberies have gone down. See comparison of Lebowakgomo Police
Station crime statistics below: Tables 12 A, B and C (SAPS Annual Report 2013).
Table: 12-A
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Table: 12-B
Table: 12-C
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Objective 3
Question 3: What factors contribute to success/ failure in CPF police interaction?
Table 13: Factors contributing to success/ failure in CPF/ police interaction 1 2 3
Respondent CPF Managers
Sector Managers
Sub-forum
Representatives
A Lack of support or partnership among role players.
No community or support between role players.
If there is no co operation between community and forums.
B No financial support from SAPS.
No cooperation from senior management.
If there is no support from youth.
C Improvement of deliveries of police service to the community.
Ensure accountability and transparency.
No transparency will lead to failure.
D Ensure consultation and proper communication between the police and the community.
Strengthen the partnership.
Ensure accountability and transparency.
E Lack of skills and knowledge.
Lack of training. Commitment.
F Indifferent from role players.
No cohesion among partners.
G If there is a support from community.
Proper planning.
H Lack of support from community.
Lack of support and co operation by certain community members and top South African Police Management.
I Failure to report crime in time.
Failure by police to attend complaints on time.
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J Lack of funds. Encouragement of participation by community to fight crime.
This question has resulted in a plethora of responses concerning support and
cooperation.
The main points that were raised can be summarised as:
Lack of resources;
Lack of empowerment; and
Lack of top police management support.
This point is certainly a topic for further research.
Question 4: Can you describe CPF / police programmes that have succeeded or
failed? Respondents agree that they have launched campaigns in the villages to fight crime
which really produced good results. They further establish operation such as “Vulindlela”
to patrol hot spots areas over the weekends. See Table 14.
Table 14: CPF / police programmes that have succeeded or failed
1 2 3
Respondent CPF Managers Sector Managers Sub-forum
Representatives
A Launching of campaigns in the village to fight crime produced good results.
Established strong partnership with Magoshis and their communities, crime went down.
Visiting of school to do educational programmes such as taking of drugs.
B Established of street committees to combat crime.
Patrolling with members of community during the night to combat house robberies.
Established victim empowerment centre.
C Established of street committees to combat crime.
Established operation `Vulindlela` to patrol hot spot areas over the weekends.
Police formed foot and vehicular patrol to combat money snatchers.
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D Success with CPF is communicated at length at local news papers and radio stations to keep the abreast of the progress made by their representative contribution.
Launched community visitor schemes inviting members CPF to address personnel during station lectures.
Meetings are held on a continuous basis within sector to address emerging problem.
E Launching Adopt a Cop at schools to combat crime changed behaviour of youth.
Encouraged local business managers to bank their daily monies, collected before the next day to avoid morning robberies.
Involvement of members of the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit to educate the communities.
F The campaign to address problems such as crime committed against woman and children and corruption in the police including the loss of case dockets introduced accountability.
Close unlicensed liquor outlets to decrease supplies of liquor to under aged customers.
G Existence of projects such Tswalela Shebeen, involvement of churches against crime to combat crime. People began to feel safe.
Distribution of newsletters in the business areas to help people not to be swindled their money.
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H CPF police have formed soccer club involving youth from local villages which competing in tournament during school holidays.
Visiting of schools in the area to be alerted about the takings of drugs.
I A CPF arranged for the provision of fresh water to community which has no access to water, prevented the residents from trespassing on the property of farming to obtain water.
Street committees to combat crime were established.
J As a results co operation of CPFs, different instances of the community pointing out criminals to the police or even arresting them themselves and handling them over to the police have occurred.
CPF have contributed towards cleaning and decorating their town police station.
Deduction: Respondents felt that specific programs have been successful. Though a
number have been mentioned, street committees, patrols and closing illegal liquor
outlets are amongst the most mentioned ones.
Question 5: Have you got any suggestions to improve CPF/ police partnership?
Table 15: Suggestions to improve CPF/ police partnership. 1 2 3
Respondent CPF Managers Sector Managers Sub-forum
Representatives
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A We improve partnership with the police.
Teamwork makes CPFs / police to combat crime effectively.
Yes, to improve transparency in the service and the accountability.
B Promote joint problem solving by the police and the community.
Visiting communities regularly to hear their problems.
Maintain a partnership between the community and the police.
C Yes, promotion of partnership among stakeholders.
Provision of resources and funds.
Yes, involvement of other Government Departments.
D Commitment from all participants.
Involvement of youth. No, suggestions amount to good cooperation and partnership.
E Yes, show accountability and involvement in partnership.
Monitoring and feedback can be expected from the police.
Stakeholders must have skills and knowledge.
F Yes, always offered the opportunity to make impacts regarding the strategies plan in my police areas when raiding illegal liquor outlets.
Teamwork and respect.
G No We accept any impact such as training of police from any source in order to strengthen our partnership.
H Skills and knowledge.
Yes, cooperation and cohesion among participants.
I Yes, to involve the community suggestions in all of the aspects of developing and implementing your strategy is vitally important.
Yes, consultation and communication also help encourage partnership and strengthen it.
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J Yes, planning should be considered before you begin to consider your crime prevention strategy.
Yes, should form part of the team or consulted before crime prevention strategy can be implemented.
Deduction: According to almost all respondents, teamwork, respect, skills and
knowledge will improve the partnership. The respondents also mentioned “strategy” a
number of times and respondent B1 also refers to joint problem solving. This reflects a
need for joint planning and team work.
4.2 Summary of the Descriptive Analysis of the Implementation of Community
Policing Forums in the Lebowakgomo Area
In this class of questions the researcher needed to find out the working partnership
between Community Policing Forums and the South African Police Service in regard to
Police activities to fight crime. All the respondents agreed that there was a good
interaction between the Police and the Community Policing Forums in working together.
The issue of not participating in the management meetings, not patrolling with the police
and recruiting of the new members was a concern. They affirmed that the Police are
taking part in Community Policing Forums projects in order to build co-ordination and
partnerships between the police and the community.
The establishment of Community Policing Forums resulted in the fact that different
project was set up to increase collaboration between the police and members of the
Community, which include Child-in-sports and Cop soccer. The Community Policing
Forums started the Child-in-sports project to inculcate the school children and youth to
participate in sports. The main aim for this project was to prevent the children from idling
doing nothing where eventually they will be vulnerable to crime. Cop-soccer was
incepted by the Community Policing Forums to establish a partnership between them
and the residents of Zones A, F, B, S and neighbouring villages such as Mamaolo where
crime such as house breaking and house robberies are taking place. The police are
playing against a team from each village on every Wednesday.
The police are being invited by local teams to participate in their villages during festive
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seasons and this encourages villagers to come together with the Police. Morrison
(2000:5) says that where they then can provide information the police crime awareness
campaigns should be carried out in the sense of educating the community in general
about crime. Although the Minister has put moratorium in regard to divulging of crime
statistics without permission, regular consultation with the community about crime is
promoted to reduce fear.
According to Van Rooyen (1994:51) it is presumed that thoughts and proposals will
eventually contribute to the qualitative improvement of policing on ground level. He says
that a more ambitious objective is required to develop a unique manner of policing that
will comply of a free and diversified society. Society expects the police to deal with an
unbelievable number of problematic situations. In Lebowakgomo policing precinct,
particularly in Zone F, every Friday and Saturday night, some youths play loud music,
drink liquor in public and take part in drag racing with cars. Community Policing Forums
and the members of the Police Service initiated the project operation “Vulindlela” where
they are patrolling the streets over weekend and raiding wanted suspects. The project
Youth Desk was established to assist in combating and prevention of crime. They were
visiting the schools in the company of Community Policing Forums and SAPS members
to lecture about crime and social ills such as termination of pregnancy and concealment
of births. On a monthly basis dissemination of pamphlets to the business institutions is
being done, volunteering patrols by residents during the nights and a project of whistle
blowing was establish when someone committed crime.
A distinction is drawn between the projects initiated by the police and those of the
Community Policing Forums. The Community Policing Forums projects are long term
projects and they focus on building partnerships between the police and the community.
The police projects deal directly with crime affecting the community. Both types of
projects are important for success of Community Policing. The Community Policing
approach is based on the presumption that the police alone cannot effectively control
crime or address the causes thereof. What is needed is the development joint capacity
to prevent crime. The police together with the Community Policing Forums must initiate,
plan and manage projects aimed at preventing and combating crime (Sebola 2006:52).
There is a sign that Community Policing Forums had succeeded to create a good
coordination and partnership between the police and the community.
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According to Kidd & Braziel (1999:1) one of the most important aspects of partnership is
that the individual members bring different skills, interests and perspectives to the
shared vision. They say that the following action steps to success must be adhered to:
• ensure that all partners have a part in developing the shared vision and common
goals.
• define member’s roles and responsibilities.
• involve all partners in project activities meetings and discuss.
• seek communication from partners.
• acknowledge and reward team members.
According to Sebola (2006:52), it is vital that Community Policing Forums also be
involved in crime problem solving projects. According to Peak & Glensor (1996:84) the
Newport News task force design a tour stage problem solving process known as South
African Revenue Service (SARS): the model involves scanning analysis respond and
assessment. The Community Policing Forums and the police should participate in all
problem solving process in order to identify the problem and evaluate it. According to
Sebola (2006:53), analysis which is the heart of the problem solving process, focuses on
learning as much as possible about the problem with the aim to determine the causes.
Response can be defined as the stage where someone is making determined efforts to
deal with the problem. It sometimes becomes necessary that response comes in a form
of arrest, or referral to other agencies. In assessment stage the Community Policing
Forums and the police should evaluate whether the problem was addressed.
Respondents alleged that the Community Policing Forums are not involved in the
projects which will assist in problem solving. Often the police officer will identify and
solve a problem on his own, while a solution in other cases must be found either within a
broader police action or the community or both. Furthermore success is determined by
statistics. A police institution is successful when the crime rate is low or the number of
arrests is high. The most efficient police officers are those who make the most arrest or
respond to the greater number of calls.
Only 2% of the respondents confirmed that the police devote most of their resources to
73
the answering of calls and responses to reported incident; manpower and logistical
abilities are simply no longer sufficient to accommodate the incident driven style.
According to Trojanowics & Bucqueroux (1994:51), the citizens are in the best position to
know what is needed in their neighbourhoods. They say that they know what is best for
them. They say that if they are asked for their inputs and are listened to, they will feel
needed and have an investment to ensure that the problems are solved. They will have
a stake in both the process and the outcome.
A large majority (80%) of respondents are of the opinion that recruitment and policy
development is management’s area of discretion of not involving the Community Policing
Forums and if that is being done would be usurping the powers of the Station
Management or National Commissioner while on other hand the respondents suggested
that during recruitment they should be involved in order to root out corruption and to
avoid to enlist people with unbecoming behaviour. This was experienced at
Lebowakgomo Police Station where chairpersons after their term of office has elapsed
did not want to vacate their seats which resulted in disfranchise to other members of the
forums. The members of forums were interfering in the running of the administration of
the station which caused the moral of the members to go down and did not want to
participate in the Community Policing Forums activities. The senior officers were verbally
attacked for no apparent reasons which resulted in relationship to become bitter to some
of the CPF members. To involve them community will promote a good relationship,
transparency and partnership. In terms of Section 215 of Constitution of Republic of
South Africa, Act 200 of 1993, the police should involve the community in policing
matters.
Section 221 of Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1993 requires the
information of Community Policing Forums at Station level and indicates a number of
possible functions which these forums may play. These include the promotion of local
accountability, the monitoring of effectiveness and efficiency of the service and advising
the service in relation to what the police should prioritise at a local level. According to
Mufumadi (1995:2), these are functions which are vital for effective policing, but they do
not mean that the community can control policing in the sort of way which some people
seem to think it should. He outlines this because of the need for an impartial police
service. He alleges that the history of the policing is the perceptions of bias and the lack
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of even handedness on the part of police.
4.3 The Community Policing Forums and Organisation
The researcher needed to determine whether implementation of Community Policing
Forums in the structures such as churches, school and to talk with local neighbouring
associations. Talk with residents to learn more about the history of the community to
help to identify residents who have longstanding credibility. These individuals can often
guide to additional community leaders. The Community Policing Forums is compromised
with all people from all sectors within the Lebowakgomo area. The Community Policing
Forums show representivity to different ethnic and cultural groupings. The clerics, youth
and taxi association should be mobilised to address problems of violence in the family by
serving on a sub-committee, together with the police.
Neighbourhoods are represented in the community policing structures and the business
sectors are not represented by the Station Commissioner quarterly holding meetings with
them to voice out their complaints in regard to taxi associations, they attend the meeting
with station management if one of their member has committed crime and want to
secure his release and that cannot strengthen the Community Policing Forums structure.
Arrangement was made that during the campaigns in the village the people with certain
qualities and skills should be invited to talk with residents. Respondents confirmed that in
Lebowakgomo Police area that social workers should advise the school children about
the drugs and furthermore Miss Ndou from Department of Justice and Constitutional
Development to address the residents about Domestic Violence Act .The employees of
Correctional Services are visiting the parolees in the villages.
All respondents agreed that recruitment of the members in the Lebowakgomo was not
based on skills and knowledge but as long as they can attend in large numbers, during
executive meetings. Most of the members are unemployed ladies who are looking for
employment. Most of the respondents are of the opinion that members of the community
join the Community Policing Forum to help police in crime prevention.
Other respondents alleged political motives as a reason to join Community Policing
Forums as a structure established in terms of the Constitution to help and maintain
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partnerships with the community and identify problems and give possible solutions.
Political affiliation should not have influence in the Community Policing Forums.
4.4 Community Policing Forums
This class of questions is needed to evaluate the implementation of Community Policing
Forums in Lebowakgomo as part of the process of identifying stakeholders for the
collaborative effort, also identify possible contributions that each of those stakeholders
may bring to such efforts.
4.5 Activities Fulfilled by Community Policing Forums Respondents gave the same opinions in regard to fighting of crime by holding
campaigns, distributing of pamphlets and also using radio slots to advice the community
about crime. They agree that the Community Policing Forum is involved in the
development of neighbourhood organisation where the residents are patrolling the
streets during the night to combat crime. They further visit Magoshi’s, and schools to
make them aware of the dangers of drugs. During the day they visit the local shopping
complex and make use of a loudhailer to make the community aware of keeping their
money safe and alerting them to the fact that they must not buy stolen goods.
All respondents confirmed meetings are held on a monthly basis at the police station and
the cluster and that the attendance is good. Some complained about not being involved
in planning strategies, not given stipends as promised by National Government that
causes Community Policing Forum members to retreat and divulging of information by
some members of the police to the criminals. It is imperative that police members at
Lebowakgomo Police Station must change to become community police officers.
Division between the members at the station and improving good relationship between
the police and the members of the forums in order to combat crime effectively must be
addressed. There is no doubt that a good partnership between the police and the
community do exist.
4.6 Community Involvement It is agreed by respondents that Community Policing Forums promote community
involvement. The Community Policing Forum of Lebowakgomo consists of
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representatives from four sectors and sectors are comprised of elected representatives
from 52 sub-forums. Meetings are held to have campaigns in particular villages, although
sometimes attendance is poor. It was confirmed that the community approaches the
Community Policing Forums when crimes are committed in their neighbourhood,
particularly the crimes against small enterprises like spaza shops and small businesses
that are burgled. It was reported that community projects such as traditional dances and
performing dramas about crime that does not pay, are carried out at schools, but could
not be confirmed. Other respondents alleged that many projects could not be executed
because there is no enough transport to take Community Policing Forums members to
these events..
The respondents stated that Community Policing Forums provide the police with
suggestions from members or the community as to what the problems are within the
neighbourhood and where are they happening. This is what community policing concept
is about. According to respondents there is a lot of involvement between communities
and the police regarding problem solving. At the station there is not enough manpower to
attend to complaints and it was decided that they should write a letter to Provincial
Commissioner to address the matter. Respondents reported that they play a big role in
community projects and this was confirmed as the projects such as Thari, Involvement of
Churches against crime, Le Amogetswe and Bolokegang were launched.
4.7 The Success and Problems
Many respondents agreed that there are successes achieved by the Community Policing
Forums for improvement of relationships between the police and the community. The
members of the police are regarded as friends of the community and no longer as
enemies. The gap that existed a long time between the police and community has been
eradicated and police have gained the trust of the community and in so doing have also
gained their co-operation. They managed to combat the building of gangsterism at Derek
High School and S.J Van der Merwe High School in Lebowakgomo where some learners
were stabbed. The parents and members of the community voiced out concerns about
crime and disorder at these two schools where the co-ordinator of Community Policing
Forum at Lebowakgomo Police Station liaised with all role players and successfully
addressed the conflicts. It was agreed that crime has decreased particularly house
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robberies are no longer reported and the usefulness of Community Policing Forums was
recognised.
The relationship between the police and members of the community improved and
resulted in the building of a Victim Empowerment Centre to accommodate victims of
Domestic Violence. Many respondents are of opinion that teamwork and giving of
information by members of the community resulted in arresting many offenders. Sector
Policing was established and implemented; the scope of implementation should address
specific objectives according to the needs of a sector, such as the following:
• to have updated information available on the prevailing crime trends and
crime related conditions within a sector to create force multipliers by
mobilising all available police and non- police resources in the fight against
crime;
• to organise structures to promote co-ordination and liaison between the police
and role players with a sector;.
• to establish a shared responsibility between police and the role players by
developing a working relationship to address crime related concerns of the
community; and
• to optimise service delivery through a collective effort by all role players to
increase their resources to prevent crime and by implementing more effective
practices (Paneras, 2002 : 3).
In Community Policing, successes are measured by three general criteria to wit
effectiveness, efficiency and equity (Peak & Glensor, 1999: 298-300). An effective
community oriented policing strategy has positive impacts on reducing neighbourhood
crime, alleviating citizen fear of crime and enhancing the quality of life in the community.
In this case the efforts and resources of community policing partners are combined in
order to make lawful and equally meaningful contributions. Badumuti (1996:8) says that
the community is unlikely to participate in any community policing initiatives, if they are
not empowered to engage meaningfully with local police about their problems and
priorities. In regard to this, the police reservists were recruited at Lebowakgomo Police
Station and they help in crime prevention and statement taking and certifying of
documents in the Community Service Centre. During weekends they are also helping the
police officers to launch drug and domestic violence awareness campaigns in the
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villages and raiding of unlicensed liquor outlets. Assess of effectiveness should not only
focus on the way in which the problem has been eradicated or reduced, but the manner
in which this has been accomplished. Efficiency means getting the best impact from the
available resources.
The problems that the Community Policing Forums face include a lack of support and
co-operation by certain community members and top South African Police Service
Management, lack of funds and, transport, lack of knowledge and experience with
Community Policing Forum Executive and communication obstacles experienced since
Community Policing Forum was launched. The majority of the respondents are not
certain whether Community Policing Forums completed the projects but many
awareness campaigns were launched and members of Community Policing Forum also
attended workshops to improve their knowledge and skills. The responsibility of the
Community Policing Forum is to mobilise members of community to combat crime, but
they do not get encouraging support from senior police officers in SAPS and those at
station level to provide resources. It was experienced at Lebowakgomo Police Station
where African National Congress (ANC) members were claiming the concept is their
product resulting in the fact that members from other parties where not willing to
participate and this caused some difficulties to the co-ordinators. The functioning of the
Community Policing Forum will be negatively affected when issues of a political nature
dominate the agenda. The members of communities become suspicious in regard to the
capabilities of the police officers and this led to the situation where the forum meetings
were only attended by unemployed women who were looking for jobs, few individuals
who have access to invitations, others collected from their respective villages and this
end in elitist control of the Forum and thus not being fully representative of the
communities. The unemployed would be pursuing for employment and if not forthcoming
they would retreat one by one. Individuals who attend Forum meetings happen to be
licensed or unlicensed liquor outlet owners who are not complying with their licence
guidelines or law and claiming to be representing their communities. These people do
not seem to represent any structure, and therefore, have no mandate and as a result
there is no productive feedback.
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4.8 Summary The transformation of the South African Police Service has not yet fully touched
communities in the Lebowakgomo. There are some people in the villages who do not
know what Community Policing entails. Furthermore more people do not know
fundamental functions of the Community Policing Forums and that impede promotion of
partnerships, relationships and collaboration to reach a common goal. It can be
confirmed during the interviews that most of the Community Policing Forum’s members
were not introduced to the Policy Framework for Community Policing Document which
contains the mandate of the Community Policing Forums.
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CHAPTER 5
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Introduction In this chapter the conclusions and recommendations are being made in regard to a
descriptive analysis of the implementation of community policing forums in the
Lebowakgomo area. This chapter aims at summarising the views of the respondents
with the intention of determining whether the established research objectives have been
achieved. The recommendations do address the expressions (feedback) given by
respondents.
5.2 Conclusion
5.2.1 The Nature and Extent of the CPF Projects.
With regard to information collected from the respondents it is confirmed that Community
Policing Forums exist in the research area. It emerged from the information that the
police and the CPF are involved in Community Policing Projects aimed at building a
partnership between the police and the members of the community. It was found that the
existence of projects such as Tswalela Shebeen, Involvement of Churches against
Crime, Bolokegang, to mention but few, were confirmed and it was found that crime was
reduced and partnerships in many villages were promoted. The CPF in the research
area does not have projects that focus on the collaborative efforts between the police
and the CPF with regard to problem solving. All the respondents did not agree that there
was an element of good interaction between the police and the community policing
forums in engaging each other. According to information CPF is involved in some
aspects connected with crime and further not involved in recruitment, training or any
development policy to run the police station to combat crime effectively. The
respondents did not agree that the CPF in Lebowakgomo policing area was satisfied
with the police’s participation in awareness campaigns. These events are mostly
attended by police reservists and very few Community Police Forum members turn up at
campaigns. Furthermore it is rare to see CPF members working as volunteers unless the
event is a political rally or a function for a certain political party. Since the establishment
of the CPF a few different projects have been implemented and had an impact in
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reducing crime.
5.3 The CPF Organisation The Community Policing Forums in the research are comprised of elected
representatives from the sector forums. All races and ethnics groups are represented.
The farming community is also represented but business sectors are not actively
involved in community and police collaboration. The representatives are democratically
elected in the Community Policing Forum and not recruited on the basis of their skills. It
was discovered that there is a lack of skills and knowledge amongst the Community
Policing Forum Executive members which leads to the inefficiency of the organisation.
The relationships between the CPF and other agencies, churches and voluntary
organisations required for the proper functioning of the CPF was found to be lacking.
5.4 Community Policing Forum Activities It was indeed found that the CPF conducted meetings with the police on a monthly basis
and that most members do attend. It was narrated that during the meeting, crime and its
precipitating factors are being discussed, but some outcomes taken in the meeting are
not fulfilled. It is confirmed that the CPF is involved in projects particularly during 2008,
2009 and 2010; it was found that almost all the projects took place only once per year
and that shows inefficiency as there was no continuity. The CPF should be involved in
sustainable projects that aim at the formation of partnerships with the community in
problem solving. The aim of Community Policing is to establish an active and equal
partnership between the police and the public through which crime and community
safety issues can jointly be determined and solutions designed and implemented.
5.5 Success and Problems The improved relationships between the police and the community members are
mentioned as one of the successes achieved through CPF/ police collaborative efforts
but some respondents think that police success is measured by arrests. In community
policing successes are measured by the three general criteria namely,
. effectiveness
. efficiency and
. equality.
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There are many issues raised by respondents which can make CPF/ police functioning
not to working properly. These include lack of support and the cooperation by some
members of the community and South African Police Service Management and a lack of
funds. There are no individuals who have skills and knowledge in the CPF. There is not
enough manpower to attend to complaints and it was decided that a letter should be
written to Provincial Commissioner to address these matters.
5.6 Recommendations It can be deducted, based on information obtained from respondents, that there is fair
collaboration between the stakeholders but most do not understand what the principles
of community policing. The following recommendations are made to guide the
Lebowakgomo Community Policing Forum and police should work as stipulated in the
framework of the community policing:
• efforts should be made to prohibit usurping the power of the Station or
National Commissioner as that would result in nepotism and politicising in
policing.
• do the necessary strategy planning to ensure a safer working environment
for police officials.
• do the necessary training to ensure CPF members do not experience
official regulations as highly restrictive.
• inform the politicians of this area that the police officials are convinced the
politicians involve themselves unnecessarily in police work.
• train the police officials regarding the Bill of Human Rights, make a list of
the restrictive components affecting police word are addressed.
• Conduct further research to determine what respondents meant when they
indicated that they see their commanders as incompetent and why they
said their commander were afraid to act.
• institutions such as schools, colleges, churches and community
organisations should be mobilised to play a meaningful role in police
community collaboration.
83
• efforts to improve consultation and proper communication between the
police and the community must be introduced.
• ensure police accountability and transparency.
• all activities of the CPF should be subject to regular evaluation by
participants.
• the community and members of the police (all relevant personnel in the
station area) should be informed about the progress that is being made.
feedback by the CPF to the community is equally important.
• training and or workshops are recommended for elected CPF members,
community policing coordinators and sector managers with regard to
community policing especially in monitoring and accountability measures to
evaluate and monitor police performance.
• efforts should be made to involve CPF in all aspects of the Lebowakgomo
Police Station, which includes policy developments, changes in the SAPS
and any other decisions affecting the community.
• it is appropriate to include business leaders in the CPF as they can
contribute their ideas, managerial expertise and problem solving skills
which will enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the police service.
• it will serve the purpose for the elected CPF executive to have security
clearance at least to the level of confidential as they will access police
privileged information due to the nature of their responsibilities and also to
test their motives of serving in the committee.
• during meetings the station crime forum must evaluate the feedback on
the implementation of their initiatives to determine what is being done and
what is being achieved. If implementation does not go according to what
was planned or does not have the desired effect it must be reviewed and
corrective actions should be indentified and executed. If the initiative was
successful in solving the problem, record must be kept of the lessons
learned and of any best practices that were identified.
• the CPF will be responsible for monitoring of Station Crime Forum
activities in the station precinct.
• to include illiterate persons and individuals without skills and knowledge of
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developing policing through the CPF, will be hindrance to progress.
• success with the CPF should be communicated at length in the local
media to keep the community abreast of the progress made by their
representatives contributions.
• the manager in the local business must bank their daily money takings
before the next day to avoid robberies in the morning when shops open.
• the chairperson should be seen as a facilitator- as someone who can help
community members get involved and ensure that the widest range of
concerns on the part of all sectors of the community are addressed and not
attempt to use it for personal gain.
• efforts must be made by SAPS management to make funds available for
the CPF and police to initiate projects which are aimed at building
partnerships and community problem solving.
• progammes such as awareness of the dangers of alcohol and drug abuse,
the campaign to address problems such as crimes committed against
women and children and corruption in the police, including the loss of case
dockets, must be launched. Lectures could be presented by the police or
some professional coordinators on a variety of subjects such as crime
prevention, alcohol and drug abuse and reconciliation and political
tolerance.
5.7 Summary Since the new dispensation came into place in1994, the policing showed improvement
as far as improving working relationships between the police and the members of the
community is concerned. To build trust for an effective community partnership police
must treat people with respect and sensitivity. The Community Policing Forums have an
important role to play in the creation of a new style of policing and in the transformation
of the police organisation. It is at station level where problem solving policing must be
done. It is at station level that the police culture can be modified. Community Policing
Forums must see themselves as playing an important role to transform policing in South
Africa and make it more democratic.
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ACTS
Interim Constitution of Republic of South Africa, Act 200 of 1993.
Constitution of Republic of South Africa, 108 of 1996.
Independent Police Investigative Directorate, Act 1 of 2011.
South African Police Service Act, Act 68 of 1995.
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INTERVIEW SCHEDULE
The following questions were put to all respondents in the 3 clusters selected for the
study.
QUESTIONS:
Objective 1: to describe the activities of the Community Policing Forums and Sub-
forums in the Lebowakgomo (policing area) to improve service
delivery to the public.
Q. 1 How will you describe the level of co-operation between the police and CPF?
Q. 2 Does a partnership between the police and CPF exist?
Q. 3 Do the police have regular contacts with CPF?
Q. 4 Do the police involve CPF in crime prevention?
Q. 5 Apart from meetings, do the police / CPF regular communicate?
Objective 2: to describe the activities of the Community Policing Forums and Sub-
forums in the Lebowakgomo (policing area) to improve service delivery
to the public.
Q. 1 Do CPF ensure that poor service delivery is reported to police management?
Q. 2 Do CPF ensure that corrective steps are taken in cases of poor service delivery?
Q. 3 Do CPF make follow-ups on reported crimes to ensure proper reaction to call by
victims?
Q. 4 Do CPF make follow-ups on progress will investigation?
Q. 5 Are victim’s right protected by CPF and feedback given to them?
Objective 3: to assess the level of perception of respondents on the police and CPF
success / failure.
Q. 1 Is the CPF / Police is a successful partnership?
Q. 2 Do you think crime has been reduced as results of CPF / Police activities?
Q. 3 What factors contribute to success / failure in CFP /police interaction?
Q. 4 Can you describe programs that have succeeded or failed?
Q. 5 Have you got any suggestions to improve CPF / Police partnership?
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